The Allison Group's primary focus draws on the work of Mary Ann Allison. It conducts research into the nature of community and social change and  works with businesses, governments, and NGOs to improve their capacity to generate positive results in rapidly-changing environments.

Mary Ann Allison is a principal of the Allison Group. Download Mary Ann's Bio.

If you are over 20, you are a digital immigrant living in a world where all the rules have changed. Most of what you learned so far in life fit a society that no longer exists. Why is logic no longer enough for good decision making? Why are trade agreements that protect American jobs bad for your company's and your children's future? How are terrorist groups and other—more beneficial—groups of purpose better organized than most businesses and governments in a wired world? Why should you make sure your children learn to multi-task and speed date?

Futurist Mary Ann Allison is an insightful and engaging speaker who helps audiences to understand how the changes in society today affect everything in our lives. More, she provides a practical roadmap to help us make better decisions for our children, in our businesses, schools, and government agencies, and—not least—in our individual lives.

A researcher who investigates the nature of community and social change, Dr. Allison is an author and a principal of the Allison Group, a New York-based international consulting firm which works with businesses, school systems, government agencies, and NGOs to improve their capacity to generate positive results in rapidly-changing environments. Her approach combines skinned knees (real business experience ranging from being Citigroup VP to directing an Internet start-up) and rigorous scientific research.

Allison coauthored The Complexity Advantage: How the Science of Complexity Can Help Your Business Achieve Peak Performance, which the Wall Street Journal described by saying: "Anyone who grasps the concepts in The Complexity Advantage will have the power to change a business in startling ways. ... These are big ideas."

Among those Dr. Allison has worked with are Microsoft, the Administrative Office of the US Courts, the Alliance for Public Technology, Dancing in the Streets, National Commercial Bank of Saudi Arabia, the Leadership Forum@Silver Bay, Glasgow's Urban Learning Space, and the University of Carolina Global Business Forum.

Here is a sample of comments from executives and meeting planners about her presentations and workshops:

This was exactly what I was hoping for!" —Hewlett-Packard

"Mary Ann started our conference off on the right foot and got everyone thinking! There were clear business lessons which could be taken and applied in a whole variety of situations."—Institute of Directors, Scotland

"We continue to find your insights into virtual community both important and valuable… Your enthusiasm and clear message got the rest of the presentations off to a good start." —Comdex

"I just wanted to let you know that almost every person from last night called me to let me know how useful the session was. Thank you so much for everything." —Historic Districts Council

When talking about globalization, communication technologies, and changing markets, Allison draws on her experience as a VP at Citigroup where she developed emerging technologies on a global basis. She opened the first virtual branch bank, built Citi's online banking service, and created their global banking-by-telephone offering.

Practical, warm, and down-to-earth, Allison is an expert at using stories to help a wide range of audiences—including groups of teachers and students and parents and children—to bridge the gaps that rapid change brings. After listening to Mary Ann recently a 22-year old said:

"Even though it was a little scary, you explained it so clearly and made it so interesting, I could really understand it. Talking to my folks will be different now."

Allison's first book, Through the Valley of Death (Doubleday 1983), is a murder mystery which she co-wrote with her husband, Eric Allison. She is a certified New York City Artist-in- Residence for her poetry and is profiled in Who's Who in America.