Business Development Expert Specializing in Personal Branding & Profitable Networking, Published Author by John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Columnist & Blogger (canoe.ca), Host Good Business TV on CTS
Allison Graham is the force behind Elevate Seminars + Strategic Development Inc, a unique business strategy company that teaches professionals how to develop valuable business relationships from casual business card contacts.
As an expert in personal branding and profitable networking, Allison has had the privilege to work with many of Canada’s most prominent companies, financial institutions and associations. Her work as a keynote speaker, corporate trainer and business consultant, has helped thousands of professionals catapult their business development results, raise their community profile and access new circles of influence, all of which opened doors for revenue growth opportunities.
In the spring of 2012, international publishing house John Wiley & Sons will release a Second Edition of Allison’s book From Business Cards to Business Relationships: Personal Branding &Profitable Networking Made Easy! Spring will also mark the launch of Allison’s new television show to Teach, Challenge and Inspire small business owners.
Allison pens the column, “Getting Connected: The Art of Networking” for the London Free Press and writes a blog for canoe.ca. She has contributed to the Financial Post earning top interviews and sharing insights on networking for executives. This included a four-part series on networking for executive women.
Prior to writing her current business-focused column for Sun Media, Allison was the People You Know columnist for the London Free Press for four years. Writing four columns a week and interacting with thousands of people gave her a unique vantage point of London’s business and philanthropic communities. She resigned from this role after winning the hotly-contested nomination to serve as the candidate in the riding of London West for the 2007 Ontario election. Although her passion for politics has transitioned to a passion for business, she still remains connected to her political contacts.
Mastering the art of networking was what took Allison from working in a mediocre job and feeling like a stranger in a new city, to having thousands of contacts and an impressive track record in business, media, politics and the charitable sector. Her consulting practice was formed after she received countless inquires about how she created success in a short time.
After receiving various job offers from firms looking to tap into her vast network, she realized there was a market to teach professionals how to do what she did. Forever grateful to those who showed her the way, Allison has made it her personal mission to help other professionals learn how to get connected. She believes that while not all of us are natural-born networkers (herself included) it is possible for everyone to create a meaningful and profitable professional network.
As an active member of the community, Allison has been involved with several organizations including the London Club, where she was the youngest member and the third female in the Club’s 127-year history to serve on the Club’s executive.
A professional member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS), Allison is the president for the Southwestern Ontario chapter and chair of program development. She serves as a board member for the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Association of North America and is a proud member of the Better Business Bureau.
