ways to work with alison
looking for candid, energizing, deeply practical conversations about leadership, working motherhood, and building a life that actually works?
then you’ve come to the right place.
who is alison, again?
alison is a mom to four kids under five, thriving in a two-parent household and highly demanding, executive role at a global financial institution
she is on a mission to help working moms find ways to fulfill their personal and professional ambitions
speaking topics
as a candid, dynamic communicator grounded in real-life working‑mom chaos and corporate leadership, Alison brings honesty, humor, and hard‑earned wisdom to every audience she meets
drawing from years spent leading at the highest levels while raising four kids under five, she delivers practical insight with clarity, empathy, and zero pretense — always with the goal of helping women make working motherhood actually work for them
alison is happy to design a custom experience.
however, sample topics include:
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actionable strategies from lived experience balancing four kids under five and a senior executive role + tips gathered from fellow working moms
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honest, humorous, research-backed insights from surveying 200+ corporate executive moms
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a tactical deep dive into how women can redistribute time with intention
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how motherhood strengthens resilience, prioritization, and decision-making
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insights on flexibility, leadership expectations, and practical supports
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anchored in @themakingitworkmom hacks to help working moms make tradeoffs without guilt
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a workshop designed to help working moms plan for parental leave and reentry into the workforce
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a workshop designed to tackle actionable routines and systems to help working moms make it work
some format options
the fireside chat
format & impact:
interviewed by a senior female leader in your organization (or key stakeholder like a board member or event sponsor), Alison will lead an engaging, interactive conversation on women’s leadership and motherhood, customized to reflect your culture and priorities
conversations are tailored to include insights from Alison’s upcoming book, perspectives of the interviewer, and real-time questions from the audience to create a candid, energizing dialogue that resonates
most ideal for:
corporate employee resource groups, team off-sites, training weeks, and conferences (mainstage or breakouts)
the keynote
format & impact:
this empowering keynote will leave working moms (and those who support them) inspired and energized to put into action all the ways women can make working motherhood work for them
most ideal for:
traditional conferences with an option to adapt the keynote into an interactive workshop for smaller groups
the panel
format & impact:
in a dynamic, moderator‑led panel featuring Alison alongside leaders from other organizations or community, this format sparks honest dialogue and practical takeaways on women’s leadership. By blending Alison’s research and insights with the lived perspectives of fellow panelists, the conversation becomes both deeply relatable and uniquely relevant to your audience
the session invites real‑time questions, shared stories, and actionable guidance, creating a high‑energy, high‑impact experience that meets your group where they are and moves them forward together
most ideal for:
organizations looking to feature multiple thought leaders or perspectives at once
the private event
format & impact:
Alison partners with you to create a customized event created specifically for the women who mater most to your organization
ideas include roundtable discussions, intimate dinners, leadership retreats, or mom’s night out (think book club meets wine & charcuterie night)
most ideal for:
groups and companies looking to bring key stakeholders like clients, prospects or board members together for a unique development or leadership experience
featured speaking engagements
Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Athena Leadership Forum Keynote
Peter F. Secchia Breakfast Lecture Series at Grand Valley State University Seidman College of Business, Panelist
Family Business Alliance TogetHer Series
Rockstar Woman Movement Soar Session, Panelist
Varnum International Women’s Day, Panelist
Varnum All Colleague Women’s Forum, Keynote
Association for Corporate Growth
Inspiring Women Leaders Forum for Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance, Panelist
West Michigan Women’s City Club, Keynote
Entrepreneur’s Organization Grand Rapids, Keynote