Jon Williams

Jon Williams, CPP APMP Fellow (Class of 2006)

Managing Director
Strategic Proposals

Bio

As the head of Strategic Proposals’ UK business, Jon is proud to lead an award-winning 30-strong team of amazing people.

Jon served as the founding chief executive of APMP’s UK chapter – the association’s first outside North America. Jon’s worked with sales and bid teams in over 35 countries, helping them to benchmark and improve their proposal capabilities and to win major deals. He has a particular passion for training: as an APMP Approved Trainer, he’s coached several thousand people through their APMP exams.

An acclaimed keynote speaker, Jon’s also a successful author inside and outside work; he's particularly proud of the bestselling book “Proposal Essentials” which he wrote with BJ Lownie. One of only ten winners in thirty years of APMP’s William C. McCrae Founder’s Award, Jon’s a Fellow of APMP, the Royal Society of Arts, and the Institute of Sales Professionals.

Jon's passions outside work include theatre, travel, and fine wine. He has a wonderful wife, two amazing children (aged 23 and 4), two beautiful Maine Coon cats, and a ridiculously lively Bombay kitten.

What does being an APMP Fellow mean to you?

Everything. Recognition from my peers that I've strived to shape best practices in our profession over nearly a quarter of a century. And a platform and duty to promote the importance of bid and proposal management and to help others to develop rewarding careers.

What's your best memory from attending an APMP event?

"The Fairytale Proposal" - a keynote speech that BJ Lownie and I gave at a Bid & Proposal Con in Arizona. We'd written the story of a team of scribes in a royal palace who were struggling against the odds as they transcribed royal proclamations in dragon's blood - until the magic fairies appeared. And. in parallel, we told the tale of a proposal center experiencing the same pressures - under-resourced and under-valued, until they managed to turn their situation around!

I read the fairy story to my four-year-old daughter recently. I can attest that it works as well at that level as it did for hundreds of bid and proposal people!"

What advice do you have for a proposal professional entering our field?

We are the job protection and creation engine for our organizations! Never be afraid to advocate at the highest levels for anything you need to perform your role brilliantly.

And never allow others to compromise your life/work balance. Every deal is "strategic" and a "must-win" for the sales lead. That's fine, and we often willingly go the extra mile to help. Proposal people are characterized by their warmth, commitment, and generosity. But always remember that your well-being is the most important thing for you, your family, and your friends.