Willis Hulings:

Co-Founder at ID8 Innovation

Willis Hulings

About Willis Hulings:

Areas of Expertise: Finance, Leadership, Operations, Presentation

Willis Hulings is a Managing Director at Compass Executives Group, a Nashville based consultancy of C level Executives that has advised small and mid-sized companies for almost 20 years. He is a recognized advisor; helping organizations to embrace change, improve operating strategies, expand business development efforts and attract/deploy financial resources. He also teaches a course on Corporate Valuation at Vanderbilt University and is a Mentor to start-ups at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. Willis has held a number of senior positions in investment banking, corporate and consumer finance, and service/technology companies. His accomplishments demonstrate a consistent record of delivering measurable results for companies in diverse stages and operating under various business models.

To meet with Willis, or any of our excellent mentors, please fill out this interest form.

Willis Hulings Q&A:

  • My brief interactions on panels at the Wond’ry have suggested that there is a unique feel and flavor to a campus facility that is dedicated to entrepreneurial collaboration. There is also an inherent drive in the Vanderbilt community that I would love to contribute to.

  • In addition to having worked on a myriad of fundraising transactions – as a lender and a capital markets investment banking person, – I also have C level experiences where I have faced a number of successes and challenges across many aspects of corporate leadership.

  • It’s a wonderful feeling to watch people who have worked for you go off to other companies and create success elsewhere.

  • When you enter a company to help solve a problem or issue, you often find that the problem being discussed is just a symptom of a bigger challenge facing the company.

  • Yes – I have always liked change and challenges and, as a result, I have done lots of different things in different parts of the world.

  • Persistence. It lies at the heart of true success. Quitting is not an option. Persistence allows you to pick yourself up and try again.

  • President of the United States (I have definitely given up on this)