<p>One of the top leadership speakers of our time, extreme adventurer Alison Levine shares invaluable principles for surviving—and thriving—in today’s toughest business environments.</p><p>Alison Levine understands what it takes to lead teams through challenging situations. Not only did she make history leading the first American Women’s Everest Expedition, scaling the “Seven Summits,” and skiing to the North and South poles, she also survived three heart surgeries… and a career on Wall Street.</p><p>A renowned leadership expert, Alison is able to draw relevant, authentic parallels between mountaineering and business because she has experienced both firsthand—on multiple mountains, in multiple organizations, and in multiple industries.</p><p>Climbing the corporate ladder in sales, marketing, and business development in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, she earned her MBA from Duke University and transitioned to finance, working in various positions for Goldman Sachs. She left Wall Street in 2003 to serve as Deputy Finance Director for Arnold Schwarzenegger in his successful bid to become governor of California.</p><p>Alison went on to author the <em>New York Times</em> bestseller, <em>On the Edge: Leadership Lessons from Everest and Other Extreme Environments</em>, asserting that the principles that apply to the world of extreme adventure also apply to demanding business environments. She currently serves on the faculty of the Thayer Leadership Group and previously spent four years as an adjunct professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.</p><p>Alison is the recipient of the 2019 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, which recognizes individuals' accomplishments in their field and inspired service to our nation. The Medal has been officially recognized by both Houses of Congress as one of our nation’s most prestigious awards and is annually memorialized in the Congressional Record.</p><p>On stage, Alison uses stunning imagery from her various expeditions to demonstrate how progress can be made by going backward, why ego is a <em>good</em> thing, and how complacency can kill you. One of today's most dynamic and innovative speakers, she inspires audiences to push themselves further than they ever thought possible.</p>
Preeminent Business Leadership Expert, First American Women's Everest Expedition Team Captain, Faculty Member at the Thayer Leader Development Group at West Point, <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author of <i>On the Edge</i>
<ul><li><strong>On the Edge: Lessons from the First American Women's Everest Expedition</strong></li><li>Imagine yourself on the highest mountain in the world. You’re dealing with the physiological effects of extreme altitude--along with bone-chilling temperatures, battering winds, and a climbing team that's counting on all of its members to make smart decisions. There's simply no room for poor judgment -- one mistake or misstep can result in an "unrecoverable error." </li><li>In any situation where lives on are the line or the stakes are exceptionally high--there's no better training ground for leaders than settings where people are pushed beyond their perceived limits. Drawing on her experience as team captain of the first American Women's Everest Expedition, Alison Levine shares the "unconventional" lessons learned from the mountain and explains how these can be applied to today's rigorously competitive business environments. </li><li><strong>Pulling Your Weight: Your Biggest Competitive Advantage Is YOU</strong></li><li>With humor and humility, Alison recounts her history-making expedition to the South Pole where she skied more than 600-miles across Antarctica while hauling 150lbs of her gear in a sled harnessed to her waist and became the first American to complete the particularly grueling route across the frozen continent.</li><li>Her trip was fraught with unexpected challenges, yet what she struggled with most wasn’t the extreme temperatures or dangerous terrain; it was the realization that she was not able to keep pace with her stronger, faster teammates while hauling a sled that far outweighed her. But a creative solution orchestrated by the expedition leader helped to uncover some surprising ways to turn her weaknesses into strengths, and as a result they were able to reach the South Pole as a stronger team than they were when the journey began. </li><li>Obviously, the South Pole is a lot different from your typical office environment—even with your air-conditioning on full blast—but it’s similar in that today’s workplace can be incredibly intense when the stakes are high. In this presentation, Alison explains how to bring out the best in the people on your team, find creative ways to turn weaknesses into strengths, and perform at a higher level than you ever thought possible. Your biggest competitive advantage is YOU. </li><li><strong>Women Moving Mountains™</strong></li><li>Although she made history climbing the world's highest peaks, Alison Levine will tell you that her most memorable climb wasn't Mount Everest—it was little known peak called Mount Stanley in the Rwenzori Mountains in Africa, where her climb changed the lives of thousands of local women. In this deeply moving presentation, Alison takes you to the war-torn area between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been plagued by conflict for decades. She recounts how asking ONE QUESTION resulted in lifting barriers for women who were previously prevented from earning a sustainable living wage because of longstanding cultural beliefs. Alison teaches us that having the courage to take small steps can lead to big changes that open up opportunities and level the social and economic playing field. Every single one of us has the ability (and responsibility) to be an agent of change…all we have to do is ask the right questions.</li></ul>