Alison Levine

5 out of 5
2 reviews

Team Captain of the First American Women's Everest Expedition; Faculty Member at Thayer Leadership at West Point, Resilience & Leadership Speaker; New York Times Bestselling Author

Denver, CO, USA
Live Event: $30,000 - $50,000 Virtual Event: $20,000 - $30,000 More Fee Info
Adventure, Adventure, Anti-Racism, Author, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Business, Change Management, Climbing, Diversity & Inclusion, Ethics & Integrity, Female Leadership, Human Resources, Influential Women, Inspirational, Leadership, Motivational, Overcoming Adversity, Personal Growth, Sales, Social Activism, Teamwork & Teambuilding, TED, Women, Women's History Month
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Alison Levine Biography

Alison Levine is a history-making polar explorer and mountaineer. She served as team captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition, and is one of the few people in the world to have climbed the highest peak on each continent and skied to both the North and South Poles—a feat known as the Adventure Grand Slam.

In January 2008, she made history as the first American to complete a 600-mile traverse across west Antarctica to the South Pole following the route of legendary explorer Reinhold Messner. Levine completed this arduous journey on skis while hauling 150 lbs. of her gear and supplies in a sled harnessed to her waist. She made history again in 2016 when she completed two first ascents: Hall Peak in Antarctica and Khang Karpo in Nepal. Her success in extreme environments is noteworthy given she has had three heart surgeries and suffers from Raynaud’s disease, which causes the arteries that feed her fingers and toes to collapse in cold weather—leaving her at extreme risk for frostbite.

In addition to climbing mountains, Levine has also spent time climbing the corporate ladder. She had a successful career in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries in the US and in Asia. After earning her MBA she transitioned to the world of finance and worked in various positions on Wall Street before serving as Deputy Finance Director for Arnold Schwarzenegger in his successful bid to become governor of California.

When not challenging herself in the outdoors, Levine focuses on training others to become strong leaders. She spent four years as an adjunct professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point in the Department of Behavioral Sciences & Leadership. In 2014 she transitioned from training cadets to working with corporate leaders and currently serves on the board and faculty of the Thayer Leadership Group at West Point—one of the nation’s premiere executive leader development programs. She was a contributing author to the book "Leadership in Dangerous Situations: A Handbook for the Armed Forces, Emergency Services and First Responders." She also served as a board member and Senior Fellow at the Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics at Duke University.

Levine has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of jobless women in western Uganda by training them to be trekking guides and porters in their local mountains, thus allowing them to earn a sustainable living wage through climbing-related tourism. Prior to her work in Uganda, women’s only avenue to earn money in this area of the country was through prostitution. Her efforts enabled the very first group of local women to climb Uganda’s highest peak—Mt Stanley. Her work to change the lives of women in Africa is the subject of the PBS documentary Living Courageously.

In 2019, Levine was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor which 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.

A sought-after consultant and keynote speaker on the subject of leadership development, Levine has addressed audiences ranging from Fortune 500 companies to professional sports teams to the World Economic Forum at Davos. She is the author of the New York Times best-seller On the Edge: Leadership Lessons from Mount Everest and other Extreme Environments. Having spent prolonged periods of time in some of the world's most dangerous and inhospitable places, she tackles the topics of creating cohesive teams, taking responsible risks, and developing no-nonsense leaders that can succeed in times of uncertainty.

Levine was inducted into the Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018. She holds a BA and honorary PhD from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Duke University, where she currently serves on the Board of Visitors. She served as executive producer of the documentary film "PASANG: In the Shadow of Everest," which chronicles the life of Pasang Lhamu Sherpa (1961-1993), the first female Sherpa to summit Mt. Everest.

FUN FACT: Levine’s life story was the inspiration for a craft beer called Conquer the Route Chocolate Stout which was distributed by Bold Missy Brewery and featured her likeness on the label.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/30/2026.

Alison Levine Speaking Topics

  • On the Edge: Leadership Lessons from the First American Women’s Everest Expedition

    Drawing on her experience as team captain of the first American Women's Everest Expedition, Alison Levine shares the lessons learned from the mountain and explains how these can help you thrive in today's ultra-competitive business environments. Her immersive keynotes reveal what it really takes to lead, make decisions, and keep moving in performance-critical moments.

    Her lessons are unconventional: Embrace fear, go backwards to make progress, stray from your plan, and pay homage to your failures. But complex situations call for non-traditional approaches. They worked for her…and they can work for you. Audiences will come away confident that they are equipped to tackle any challenge that comes their way.

  • From Setback to Superpowers: Why Your Team’s Limitations Might Be Your Biggest Asset

    With humor and humility, Alison Levine recounts her history-making expedition to the South Pole, where she skied more than 600 miles across the punishing terrain of Antarctica on a quest to become the first American to complete the brutally demanding Messner route. 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 couldn’t keep pace with her taller, stronger teammates — until a creative solution turned what initially seemed like a disadvantage into her greatest strength.

    This journey to the coldest place on earth will leave you with a new perspective on teamwork, perceived “limitations,” and the value each person brings to the table — especially those whose strengths look different from everyone else’s. You'll come away with strategies to unlock hidden potential in yourself and in your teammates...as well as a deep, DEEP appreciation for heated car seats.

Alison Levine Videos

Alison Levine - Complacency Will Kill You

Alison Levine - Complacency Will Kill You

Alison describes climbing through the treacherous Khumbu Icefall on Mt. Everest and how complacency puts you at risk when you're in environments that...

Unorthodox Lessons From Scaling Mount Everest with Alison Levine

Unorthodox Lessons From Scaling Mount Everest with Alison Levine

Today, we’ll hear from: • A business leader struggling to train and delegate to a team member • Leadership principles learned from extreme...

Alison Levine at TedX Midwest: Complacency Will Kill You - YouTube

Alison Levine at TedX Midwest: Complacency Will Kill You - YouTube

Alison describes the perils of the Khumbu Icefall and why fear is okay, but complacency will kill you.

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On the Edge: The Art of High-Impact Leadership
On the Edge: The Art of High-Impact Leadership

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  • What are the speaker fees for Alison Levine

    Speaking fees for Alison Levine, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Alison Levine are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and $20,000 - $30,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Alison Levine, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Alison Levine speak about?

    Alison Levine is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Adventure, Adventure, Anti-Racism, Author, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Business, Change Management, Climbing, Diversity & Inclusion, Ethics & Integrity, Female Leadership, Human Resources, Influential Women, Inspirational, Leadership, Motivational, Overcoming Adversity, Personal Growth, Sales, Social Activism, Teamwork & Teambuilding, TED, Women, Women's History Month

  • Where does Alison Levine travel from?

    Alison Levine generally travels from Denver, CO, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

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    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Alison Levine for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Alison Levine for your next private or corporate function.

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Alison Levine is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as On the Edge: Leadership Lessons from the First American Women’s Everest Expedition and From Setback to Superpowers: Why Your Team’s Limitations Might Be Your Biggest Asset. The estimated speaking fee range to book Alison Levine for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Alison Levine generally travels from Denver, CO, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Carey Lohrenz, John "GUCCI" Foley, Molly Fletcher, Daymond John and Robyn Benincasa. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Alison Levine for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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