Alison Levine

Alison Levine is a world-renowned keynote speaker, mountaineer, and leadership strategist who brings grit, insight, and inspiration to every stage she steps onto. As team captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition, she has climbed the highest peak on every continent and skied to both the North and South Poles—a feat known as the Adventure Grand Slam, achieved by fewer than twenty people worldwide.

Alison’s story is one of extraordinary courage and determination. Despite three heart surgeries and Raynaud’s disease, she has led teams through some of the most extreme and unpredictable conditions on the planet. Her ability to translate these high-stakes experiences into actionable lessons on leadership and resilience has made her a sought-after speaker for global organisations and top-tier business events.

Beyond her record-breaking expeditions, Alison’s corporate background includes leadership roles at Goldman Sachs and in the medical technology sector. She serves on the faculty of the Thayer Leader Development Group at West Point and is the bestselling author of On the Edge: Leadership Lessons from Mount Everest and Other Extreme Environments.

Career Highlights:

• Team Captain, First American Women’s Everest Expedition: Led the historic climb that inspired millions worldwide.

• Adventure Grand Slam Achiever: One of fewer than twenty people to have climbed the highest peak on every continent and skied to both the North and South Poles.

• Best-Selling Author: Wrote On the Edge, a powerful account of leadership, risk-taking, and perseverance in extreme conditions.

• Leadership Faculty, West Point: Educates senior leaders and executives through the Thayer Leader Development Group.

• Corporate Leader & Strategist: Held leadership roles at Goldman Sachs and medical technology firms before embarking on her speaking career.

Core Topics:

At Pendulum Summit 2026, Levine will deliver a dynamic session filled with real-world lessons on leadership, resilience, and decision-making under pressure:

• Leading in Extreme Conditions: How to guide teams through uncertainty, risk, and rapidly changing environments.

• Courageous Decision-Making: Making bold, effective choices when the stakes are highest.

• Resilience in Adversity: Overcoming setbacks, fear, and fatigue to achieve peak performance.

• Teamwork at the Edge: Building trust, communication, and accountability when lives—or livelihoods—depend on it.

Why Alison Levine?

Alison’s rare combination of mountaineering mastery, military leadership insight, and corporate experience makes her one of the most compelling voices in leadership today. Her stories from Everest and the polar regions provide a powerful metaphor for navigating today’s volatile business landscape.

Attendees will leave her session with a renewed sense of courage, clarity, and conviction to lead their own teams through any challenge—no matter how steep the climb.

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from one of the most inspiring and fearless leaders of our time.