Patricia Wilson

Former CEO of Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area, Digital Media Visionary, Philanthropy Consultant

Travels From Travels From:
San Francisco, CA, USA
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Patricia Wilson Biography

Patricia Wilson is the former CEO of Make-A-Wish, Greater Bay Area, an organization renowned for granting over 400 wishes annually for children with life-threatening medical conditions in northern California. Beginning her leadership role in 1998 with a small team of four employees and a budget of $1.6 million, she expanded the chapter significantly. By 2016, she was overseeing 28 staff members, more than 600 volunteers, and a budget exceeding $10 million. Wilson gained widespread recognition for orchestrating the transformation of San Francisco into Gotham City to fulfill a young cancer patient's wish to be "Batkid" for a day—a story captured in the documentary "Batkid Begins" and an upcoming feature film by Julia Roberts. Her approach to leadership, focusing on integrity, communication, and empowering others, has earned her accolades such as the Producers Guild of America's Digital V.I.P. Visionary Award and a place among the San Francisco Times' "Most Influential Business Women."

The "Batkid" event, under Wilson's guidance, became a global phenomenon, turning San Francisco into Gotham City to celebrate five-year-old leukemia survivor Miles. The day included heroic acts fit for a superhero, rallying the community and attracting worldwide attention. For her innovative use of social media and public relations during this event, Wilson's chapter received the Shorty Industry Awards for "Best Social Good Campaign" and "Best Twitter Campaign." The remarkable social media impact included a 96% positivity rate in tweets and discussions in 117 countries, highlighting Wilson's adept use of digital platforms to amplify social good initiatives.

Beyond her notable achievements at Make-A-Wish, Wilson is a respected TED speaker, sharing her insights on philanthropy, leadership, and crisis communication. She continues to influence through her consultancy roles for startups in the Bay Area and Vancouver and serves on the boards of Illuminate and Friends of the Urban Forest. Her career, marked by a philosophy of giving credit and fostering community engagement, positions her as an inspiring figure in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors. Her talks emphasize the importance of motivating teams and securing sponsorships, vital for sustaining impactful community-oriented projects.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 09/30/2024.

Patricia Wilson Speaking Topics

  • Harnessing Social Media for Social Good.

    Through Miles (as Batkid), Patricia Wilson and her team created a social media sensation that was so compelling even President Obama had to create his first Vine video as a response. She walks audiences through how she developed Make-A-Wish’s approach to social media and shares the importance of leveraging personal, professional, and community relationships. Believing that the biggest mistake organizations make with their social media platforms is using them as a broadcast tool (not once during the entire campaign did Make-A-Wish ask for donations – however the media attention and goodwill that the straightforward approach generated more than made up for it), she shows audiences how social media’s true power is engagement and offers tips for creating an authentic, engaging, and credible social media presence.

  • Leadership Lessons from an Accidental CEO.

    A mission-based CEO committed to making the world a better place, Patricia Wilson shares the many lessons she has learned during her tenure in for-profit and non-profit leadership roles. She believes that the most valuable asset an organization has is its talent and says that her most significant accomplishment wasn’t pulling off the famous Batkid wish but rather assembling the team that made it possible. Told through heart-warming stories from Make-A-Wish, she shares what to look for in the hiring process, the importance of building and retaining great teams, how to set the tone for your group, creating an atmosphere of excellence, and why it’s good to sometimes be affectionately known as the “B.I.C.” With the mantra of “Give credit, don’t take it,” her leadership lessons resonate across business sectors.

  • Batkid Saves San Francisco and Inspires Millions.

    Patricia Wilson tells the uplifting story of how she turned five-year-old cancer survivor Miles into Batkid for a day and transformed a city and inspired a nation in the process. From what went on behind the scenes to how Batkid became one of the biggest news stories of the year, she showcases heart-warming video, photos, and other media as she inspires audiences to give back and make a difference in their communities.

Patricia Wilson Videos

  • An Exclusive Interview with Patricia Wilson and Mike Jutan of 'Batkid ...
  • Leadership lessons from an accidental CEO | Patricia Wilson ...

FAQs on booking Patricia Wilson

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  • What topics does Patricia Wilson speak about?

    Patricia Wilson is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Business, Change Management, Educational Motivational, Executive Leadership, Female Leadership, Fitness, Inspirational, Motivational, Personal Growth, Social Activism.
  • Where does Patricia Wilson travel from?

    Patricia Wilson generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Patricia Wilson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Patricia Wilson for your next private or corporate function.
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Patricia Wilson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Harnessing Social Media for Social Good., Leadership Lessons from an Accidental CEO. and Batkid Saves San Francisco and Inspires Millions.. The estimated speaking fee range to book Patricia Wilson for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Patricia Wilson generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Sheila Cummings, Paula McDade, Cynthia Germanotta, Nataly Kogan and Kristie Kennedy. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Patricia Wilson for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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