Patricia Wilson

Mission-based CEO making the world a better place. See her TEDxTalk to find out why she is affectionately referred to as the "B.I.C". SPECIALTIES: public speaking, leadership development, marketing and media (traditional & social), board and staff development, philanthropy, strategic, business/marketing plans, community partnerships, turning San Francisco into Gotham City. Inspired by motherhood, Patricia made the switch to work in the nonprofit industry in 1987. She is currently the CEO of Make-A-Wish and is responsible for leading the overall direction of the organization. As one of the largest chapters nationwide, the Greater Bay Area chapter grants nearly 400 wishes per year. Patricia took her most rewarding role to date in 1998 when the organization had 4 employees and a $1.6 million budget. Today she manages a staff of 28, 550+ volunteers and a $9+ million budget. Patricia reports to a 28 member Board of Directors and three Advisory Boards: Advisory Council, Young Professional Advisory Council and YPAC Jr. Youth Council. Prior to joining Make-A-Wish, Patricia held leadership roles at WHRO and KQED, the 5th largest public broadcaster nationally. Following this, she helped produce several public broadcasting shows and provided marketing and fundraising consulting for nonprofit clients, including The Yosemite Fund and the National Inventors Hall of Fame, before serving as the Executive Director of the Coyote Point Environmental Museum. Patricia resides in San Francisco. She is a volunteer urban forester, serves on the Board of Directors of Friends of the Urban Forest, Illuminate the Arts, and her neighborhood improvement association. She is frequently sought out as a public speaker and to advise on matters of leadership, inspiration in the workplace, team building, marketing, philanthropy, social media, public relations and board development.