Dr. Ali Atkison

Professional History
Over 20 years of experience in:

• Communication
• Higher Education Leadership
• Strategic Planning
• Facilitation and Coaching
• Learning and Development
• Teambuilding
• Evaluation and Assessment
• Program Development
• Leadership and Staff Development
• Change Management

Educational Background
University of Denver

• D., Human Communication Studies
• A., Human Communication Studies

University of Indiana

• A. Communication

Certification,
Assessments & Licensure

• Credentialed in University of Denver’s University College Master Teaching Status

Dr. Ali Atkison serves as the Vice President of Learning & Development for HRD. She is a highly regarded learning-and-development strategist, facilitator, and keynote speaker who has educated and inspired teams and audiences of all sizes for more than two decades. With 25 years in the learning field, Ali is widely considered one of the foremost authorities on how the adult brain learns. She is also the author of the recently released game-changing book, How’s Your Computer-side Manner? Nine Digital-Communication Mistakes You’re Making That Are Holding You Back.

Ali uses her wealth of experience in learning and development, communication, and leadership to build innovative learning programs that align with organizational goals and stakeholders’ needs. And she delights in delivering clear, tangible and, yes, actually fun, programs to engage with organizations and teams who want to truly achieve lasting results. Ali brings expertise in learning and development, professional speaking, facilitation, strategic planning, leadership, and teambuilding. She uses her experience with the power of communication and science to deliver results that marry the complex interplay between human motivation and values and the organization’s values and mission.

Ali leads with an inquisitive mindset. She brings her curious, analytical nature to her work, which allows her to model and foster a growth mindset. She believes every problem has a solution, and every person has potential. Ali’s strengths are her ability to connect big-picture thinking with small steps and achievable wins; and finding ways to connect with clients and audiences from 1 to 1,000 in ways that make sense to them.

Ali’s accomplishments include:

• Her book, How’s Your Computer-side Manner? Nine Digital-Communication Mistakes You’re Making That Are Holding You Back, was published in 2024.
• Mensa International, member in good standing.
• Published articles in ATD Magazine, UPCEA’s Unbound, and The Chronicle of Higher Education
• Ali has been an invited speaker for many conferences, including the Mastercard Neurodiversity in the Workplace Summit, several HR Indiana conferences, and the 2022 Python Web Conference, among others.
• She has appeared on numerous podcasts including Geeks, Geezers, and Googlization and LinkedIn Live with Dr. Laura Sicola.
• Professor and creator of self-paced digital courses for Great Courses and Audible on brain-based tactics for communication, written communications, and consulting.
• Ali’s Audible course on consulting, “Consulting 101: So You Want to Be a Consultant?”, was named “One of the 12 Best Business Consulting Audiobooks of All Time” by BookAuthority.
• Ali has conducted keynotes and workshops on brain-based communication, brain-based facilitation, and communication skills for organizations such as Marsh McLennan, Pinnacol Assurance, the Denver Art Museum, the Institute for Adult Learning in Singapore, and more.