Emma Willis

Emma Willis’ career has spanned from marketing financial services, marketing, business strategy, thought leadership, and a focus on higher education savings plans.

In 2021 Willis was named chief operating officer for Bentonville-based Venture Noire, a National nonprofit focused on supporting Black entrepreneurs.

“What’s really interesting about my life [is] there are so many intersections in what I do,” she said. “A lot of times, it’s hard for people to imagine how I can hold so many positions, but I look for natural synergy in most of the work I have going on.”

As executive director of the Arkansas 529 Education Investment Plan, she led the program’s assets to increase from $600 million to $1 billion and released Gift Arkansas 529, the first state-run plan app in the United States.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Philander Smith College in May 2006. She serves as a board member for the Greater Bentonville Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement of Northwest Arkansas, and more.