Alison Whitmire

Athlete, Brainstormer, Business adviser, Business leader, Business mentor, Connector, Consultant, Idea generator, Marketer, Parent

I’m deeply committed to helping CEOs achieve their goals—the big and the small, whatever they are, whatever it takes. Whether it’s connecting a start up with investors, leading an organization through a game-changing visioning process or providing tools that lead to pivotal personal growth, I meet my clients where they are and help them get to where they want to be. It’s when a client achieves something they weren’t sure they could that inspires me most. My diverse background helps me understand today’s leaders and the challenges they face. Everything from my time as a CPA with Ernst & Young, to completing my MBA from University of Chicago, to years of experience as a strategic planning consultant and running divisions of Fortune 500 companies, I’ve learned and experienced a lot about leadership, strategy and execution. Even after becoming a credentialed coach and working with more than 75 Seattle area CEOs , I’m always adding to my tools and capabilities to ensure my clients get the expertise they need for their specific challenges. The number one thing you should know about me: I ask a lot of questions. That’s how I get you to stretch your thinking. My job is to ask better, smarter, tougher questions—the types of questions that you haven’t thought to ask yourself, that challenge you to look beyond the obvious, that require courageous answers that reveal the unexpected. With the intention of helping you grow faster, my questions are purposeful, informed, and candid—just like me. I have curated two TEDxes. TEDxPugetSound in 2009 and again in 2011. Both events were targeted toward CEOs and helping them reconnect with their passions and bring their ideas into action.

Running, Yoga, my 9 year old son, coaching CEOs and entrepreneurs, Why Discovery, TEDxRockCreekPark, Conscious leadership, creating community

If leadership is defined as the ability to attract willing followers, I know of only two types of successful leaders: those who vividly paint a compelling picture of the future they are creating and those who have your back.

Coaching CEOs, Connect people, Voice Finding, Why Discovery

I attended my first TEDActive in 2009 and wanted to do something with the passion that was sparked by attending. Soon thereafter, the TEDx program was introduced and in 9/09, TEDxPugetSound was born. The Great Recession provided the impetus for the 2009 event theme: The Art of Living, Integrating Life’s Passions. The event’s intention was to reconnect CEOs, entrepreneurs and business owners with the passion that inspires them to lead their companies. Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why” talk so resonated with the audience that his video was viewed thousands of times and was uploaded to TED.com. TEDxPugetSound 2011 occurred on 2/10/11 and it's theme was, Dreaming Out Loud: Transforming Ideas Into Action, and celebrated innovation beyond capitalist purposes. Our belief is that innovation represents the highest form of living. TEDxRockCreekPark is next, slated for May 2013, and the result of a transcontinental move. The theme will be: Learning: to unleash your potential

Frankly, there's not much that people don't know I'm good at because I can tend to tell people everything I'm even moderately good at in a "mom, look at me, no hands!" kind of way.