"If you want to bring a fundamental change in people's belief and behavior...you need to create a community around them, where those new beliefs can be practiced and expressed and nurtured." ― Malcolm Gladwell
Alyson deeply understands the value and magic of community. Her passion for serving and connecting C-Level executives made her the perfect person to lead our CFO + CHRO communities in The Circle. When I first met Alyson, I was struck by her storytelling chops. She wove a thread of community through her entire life and career – from her most recent roles in convening C-Level executives at Remote and Transform Media, going back as far as her first job at Starbucks and being a campus leader and recruiter for her sorority. Spending time with her, it’s immediately clear that Alyson has a talent for making people feel comfortable, seen, and connected.
At Remote, Alyson developed and led programs on mental health, global benefits, and hiring for HR and future of work executives, leveraging member feedback to refine her approach and “build with, not for” (which happens to be our most deeply held mantra at The Circle). At Transform Media, she led programming for a multi-channel thought leadership platform that connected people-driven leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors. All that experience, plus her intellectual curiosity and boundless energy, makes Alyson an obvious choice for handing over the reins to our beloved and rapidly-growing operations communities.
Outside of work, you can find Alyson watercolor painting, kayaking the many rivers and lakes of Michigan, tending her garden, hopping on a flight to travel somewhere interesting, and admiring early 20th-century architecture. During any of these activities, she’s likely chasing around her young son, Parker, who dreams of becoming a professional golfer, actor, and garbage truck driver.
by Kalee Gardella
