Bill Stokes

Bill Stokes

Founder & Chairman
Washington Network Group
Washington DC, USA

Phone: +1 202-455-4504
Email: Contact

LinkedIn: Connect
Twitter: Follow
XING: Connect
Clubhouse: @BillStokes

Personal Themes:

Empathy (encourage it)
Civility (demonstrate it)
Allyship (live it)
Social Impact (amplify it)

Bill Stokes is Founder and Chairman of the Washington Network Group (WNG), a Washington, D.C.-based organization of senior-level executives and professionals from the private, public and independent sectors. The WNG membership includes leaders in companies, professional service firms, associations, and nonprofit organizations, multilateral institutions, the Congress, government agencies, foreign embassies, and the media. The Group convenes over 40 events per year, bringing together thousands of regional and international leaders for networking, relationship building, and business development purposes.

A Virginia native, Bill launched his career in Washington, D.C. working in think tanks where he served in operational management roles. His focus on international trade and national security issues led him into business consulting, executive recruiting, and leadership development. Today, Bill works with U.S. and international clients to address their business, human resource, and leadership challenges.

Bill is "a people person" who works with owners, founders, and builders of growing companies and non-profit organizations. As an executive search consultant, he has recruited leaders, executives, and managers for U.S. and international clients. His focus areas include management and operations, sales, business development, marketing, communications, public relations, public affairs, advocacy, government relations, lobbying, advancement, development, and fundraising. He is a trained leadership development coach and serves as a mentor to numerous organizations including the BMW Foundation's RESPOND Accelerator, the Founder Institute, Accelerate Athens, and the Exonian Mentors program of Phillips Exeter Academy. He is a BMW Foundation Responsible Leader and a past BMW Trans-Atlantic Forum (TAF) Fellow. Additionally, Bill is a Professional Networks Leader for the College of William & Mary in Virginia.

Earlier in his career, Bill founded and was Managing Partner of EndeavorConnect, a consulting group advising foreign firms entering the U.S. market and American companies going overseas. Clients included private sector companies, economic development agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Bill designed and executed market entry and sales strategies, and conducted political and economic risk assessments. The firm convened thought leadership conferences and managed international trade delegation visits. Bill provided counseling on global personnel issues such as recruitment, education and training, and cross-cultural leadership.

He is a seasoned nonprofit professional, having served as Director of Development at the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) and Chief of Staff in the Office of the President at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), in Washington, D.C. Also, he was Program Director at the National Council for International Trade Development (NCITD) and Program Director at the Washington Research Office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a leading German political foundation.

He is a past board member of the George C. Marshall International Center (GCMIC), the World Affairs Council of Washington, D.C. (executive committee), the Phillips Exeter Academy alumni/ae association of Washington, D.C. (president), and The Hill School of Middleburg Virginia alumni/ae association (president). He was a founding member of First Tuesday Washington DC (city leader), RecruitDC, and the International Business Council of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Board of Directors of the German American Business Association (GABA) and was Director of the Manfred-Woerner-Seminar for German-American Understanding, a leading transatlantic exchange program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Bill pursued graduate studies in international business and economics, and European politics at the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University. He holds an undergraduate degree in history and political science from the College of William & Mary in Virginia. He also studied at the University of Trier in Germany and Georgetown University. Educated at Phillips Exeter Academy, he thinks independently and speaks German well enough to get himself into serious trouble.

Born in Washington, D.C., Bill grew up on a farm in Loudoun County, Virginia, and today is a resident of Alexandria, Virginia. For many years, he coached youth soccer and lacrosse teams, and on weekends you will find him paddling a river, exploring a mountain, enjoying steeplechase races out in the countryside or digging in the garden.

Relevant Forums, Presentations and Interviews:

2021-December 2: "The Great Resignation: What Can Be Done about It?" (moderator)
Washington Network Group
2021-October 20: "Corporate Reputation Management: Leaning in and Leading through" (moderator)
Washington Network Group
2021-October 18: "Advice from Corporate and Non-Profit Recruiters" (panelist)
Career Transition Center, Foreign Service Institute (FSI) at the U.S. Department of State
2021-August 11: "Advice from Corporate and Non-Profit Recruiters" (panelist)
Career Transition Center, Foreign Service Institute (FSI) at the U.S. Department of State
2021-July 15: Foreign Policy Forum with former CIA Director John E. McLaughlin on "The Emerging Biden Foreign Policy; China to the Fore" (moderator)
George C. Marshall International Center
2021-July 14: "Career Development Brainstorming Session" (panelist)
Washington Network Group
2021-May 20: "Netherland Carillon: Dedication of the George C. Marshall Carillon Bell" (speaker)
National Park Service and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
2021-April 29: "WNG Social Impact Series 2021" (producer, moderator)
Washington Network Group
2020-November 24: "Career 2021 - Are You Ready?" (moderator)
WNG Career Development Roundtable
2020-March 25: "How to Access Opportunities through Strategic Networking" (panelist)
Washington Network Group
2019-November 7: "Recruiting and Hiring" (moderator)
Alexandria Chamber Professional Women’s Network (ACPWN) Professional Development Series
2019-August 21: "Recruiting for Startups and Fast-Growing Companies: What entrepreneurs and business leaders need to know in today's extremely competitive hiring environment" (moderator)
WNG Entrepreneur Roundtable
2019-July 31: "How to Access Opportunities through Strategic Networking: A Brainstorming Session" (moderator)
Washington Network Group
2019-May 8: "Going Independent: Creating and Growing a Business" (moderator)
WNG Entrepreneur Roundtable
2019-April 25: "How to Access Opportunities through Strategic Networking: A Brainstorming Session" (co-moderator)
Washington Network Group
2018-October 24: "Networking to Advance Your Career: A Brainstorming Session III" (co-moderator)
WNG Career Development Roundtable
2018-May 17: "Ask an Alum..." (Alumni Networking Panel) (panelist)
Phillips Exeter Academy
2018-April 11: "Networking to Advance Your Career: A Brainstorming Session II" (co-moderator)
WNG Career Development Roundtable
2018-January 4: "Networking to Advance Your Career: A Brainstorming Session I" (co-moderator)
WNG Career Development Roundtable
2017-October 28-30: "Responsible Leaders Forum on Inclusive Societies for Stable Democracies, Baltimore" (participant)
BMW Foundation
2017-April 6: "Networking to Advance Your Career: A Brainstorming Session" (co-moderator)
WNG Career Development Roundtable
2017-January 18: "Networking to Advance Your Career" (co-moderator)
WNG Career Development Roundtable
2016-August 24: "Networking Best Practices: A Brainstorming Session" (co-moderator)
WNG Career Development Roundtable
2016-May 19-22: "World Responsible Leaders Forum, Munich" (participant)
BMW Foundation
2015-August 19: "Networking Best Practices" (co-moderator)
WNG Career Development Roundtable
2015-July 15: "Networking to Advance Your Career" (co-moderator)
WNG Career Development Roundtable
2015-April 27: "How Washington Works: People, Policy and Process (The 3 P's)" (discussant)
Lantos-Humanity in Action Congressional Fellows
2015-January 7: "Networking for Career Success" (co-moderator)
WNG Career Development Roundtable
2014-August 21: "Marine Corps Executive Forum" (participant)
U.S. Marine Corps
2014-May 21: "Networking for Career Success: A Brainstorming Session" (moderator)
WNG Career Development Roundtable
2014-April 16: "Networking: A Boardroom Brainstorming Session" (moderator)
WNG Chairman's Forum
2014-February 18: "AD 2 DC's Tips & Tricks: Personal Branding" (panelist)
DC Ad Club
2013-December 12: "Going Independent: Creating and Building a Consulting Practice" (moderator)
Washington Network Group (WNG)
2013-October 25: "Networking in Washington, D.C." (presenter)
Hope Fellows in Governance and Economics
2012-June 26: "Networking in Washington, D.C." (presenter)
Hope Fellows in Diplomacy and Democracy
2011-October 14: "International Trade Career Roundtable: Networking - Old Style and New Style" (presenter)
Washington International Trade Association (WITA)
2010-April 7: "Networking Strategies for Business Executives" (presenter)
Women in Business
2010-February 1: "Networking & Job Seeking in the Policy World" (panelist)
Washington International Trade Association (WITA)
2009-October 29: "Networking Tips from a Pro"
DC Works
2009-October 25: "Go Back to School to Smooth Career Changes"
The Washington Post
2009-September 13: "Networking 101: Build Relationships and Advance Your Career"
The Washington Post
2009-September 10: "The Power of Networking: Building a Strategy that Works"
CXO Forum
2009-July 9: "The Importance of Networking and How to Be Successful at It"
National Albanian American Council (NAAC)
2009-March 25: "Social Media & Career Transitions" (moderator)
Washington Network Group (WNG)
2008-December 2: "Managing Your Next Career Transition" (moderator)
Washington Network Group (WNG)
2008-September 29: "The Power of Networking"
Association of Women In International Trade (WIIT)