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Audri Williams is a Vice President, Senior Consultant and Global Volunteer Lead with Northern Trust. She oversees our enterprise-wide volunteer strategy and engagement programs, empowering employees around the world to give their time and talent to causes they care about.
This includes leading our annual Global Month of Service – Achieving Greater Together (AGT), Northern Trust’s largest community engagement initiative. AGT brings together colleagues across regions, business units, and time zones to make a collective difference.
In partnership with nonprofit organizations worldwide, we mobilize thousands of employees each October to volunteer, raise awareness, and strengthen communities where we live and work. Our month of service continues to grow and scale each year, deepening employee engagement while advancing Northern Trust’s commitment to service and shared success.
Read on for Audri’s perspective on her career at Northern Trust and to learn more about this year’s Achieving Greater Together impact.
(Audri and team at Habitat for Humanity, Chicago)
Talk to us about your journey to Northern Trust
I joined Northern Trust in March 2021 after working in the nonprofit sector, where I focused on resource development, fundraising programs, and event planning. I feel those experiences strengthened my ability to build partnerships and create meaningful impact, skills I have been able to carry into my work in corporate philanthropy at Northern Trust.
Our commitment to community impact aligns perfectly with my own values.
What do you like best about working at Northern Trust?
What I like best about working at Northern Trust is the people – their commitment to our work and their passion for giving back makes it a place where purpose truly comes to life.
What has leading Northern Trust’s volunteer programs taught you?
Managing these programs has taught me that leadership is about empowering others.
By giving our employees tools and autonomy to support causes they care about, it unlocks authentic engagement. That autonomy creates ownership, and ownership builds momentum. It transforms volunteerism from a one-time event into a shared culture of service that endures beyond any single campaign.
What are you most proud of when it comes to your involvement in AGT?
For me AGT isn’t just about numbers, it’s about fostering a sense of One Northern Trust.
I’m proud that our efforts united colleagues across regions and functions, reinforcing our shared purpose and commitment to community.
How many hours did you personally volunteer during this AGT?
I volunteered just over 50 hours during AGT, which is a new record for me 😊
(With Chicago Parks Foundation, park beautification project at Washington Park)
What are some highlights of this year’s AGT?
This year was more impactful than ever as we saw:
- Global Volunteer Hours – 63,000
- Organizations Supported – 1,500
- Meals Donated – 3,000,000+ (1 hour = 50 meals)
- Team Volunteer Events – 800+
- Partner Participation – More than 12,000 Partners
- Representation from very office across the globe
You can see and read more in our weekly recap posts on LinkedIn below:
(Audri and team packing food for the Nourishing Hope team)
Giving Our Time and Talents during AGT 2025
Community engagement is an important part of our culture. Through our volunteer programs, our employees listen, learn and work closely with our communities to address their needs.
Achieving Greater Together, in its 7th year, has grown into a global movement of service, and what I’m most proud of is the incredible rise in employee participation to 12,000 employees participating this year. While our employees volunteer year-round, AGT brings a unique energy: the excitement of coming together at the same time to give back unites us in a powerful way. It’s more than volunteering — it’s a shared experience that strengthens our culture and amplifies our impact.
Spirit of Service
Throughout the month of October, Northern Trust partners embraced a spirit of service, engaging in a diverse array of volunteer activities that reflected both compassion and creativity. From hands-on efforts like packing meals, painting community spaces, and organizing donations, to skills-based engagements such as resume coaching, mock interviews, and financial literacy workshops, the campaign empowered employees to give back in ways that leveraged both heart and expertise.
Many teams hosted in-office events that brought colleagues together—writing well-wishes to seniors, assembling hygiene kits, and crafting educational materials for children—while others ventured into their communities to support food banks, shelters, and schools. The campaign also encouraged individual action, with virtual volunteering options and flexible scheduling that allowed partners to contribute on their own terms.
Supporting our people’s efforts
In recognition of employees' commitment to meaningful causes, we provide two days of paid leave each year for individuals to volunteer with charities of their choice.
(Mock interviews at a workforce development nonprofit Cara Collective)
Fast Facts about Audri
Hometown / where are you living now – Wichita, KS, I live in the West Loop of Chicago.
Do you have a pet(s)? – Yes, an 8-year-old rat terrier named Scooby.
Where do you volunteer your time? / Cause that you’re passionate about – In my role at Northern Trust I volunteer a lot, but outside of work I also volunteer personally at iMentor where I am a mentor to a high school student, and the Birthday Party Project that throws monthly birthday parties at local homeless shelters for kids that wouldn’t otherwise be able to celebrate their special day.
What are you reading / podcast recommendation – I am currently reading ‘I Should Be Smarter By Now’ by Issa Rae.
Favorite sports team - University of Kansas Basketball – Rock Chalk Jayhawk!
Comfort food - I love soup, especially as the weather is starting to get colder, it is my go-to winter comfort food.
Best advice you’ve received (work or non-work related) – The best advice I ever received was to build a life that feels good on the inside, not one that just looks good on the outside.
If you could have dinner with any person alive today, who would it be – Michelle Obama – her voice, leadership, and commitment to community inspire me daily.
Describe Northern Trust in one word: Purposeful.
Careers at Northern Trust
Come find your greater at Northern Trust. Review our open roles here.