Bio

I wish I had known sooner that confidence is learned but not by faking it or by hearing someone else’s hero story. I know now that confidence isn’t a result of success – it’s a requirement for it and often more important than being competent. Using basic brain science, we can now learn how to be confident by building desired neural pathways that allow us to choose how to think and behave. My confidence crusade started in 2008 when my older son was diagnosed with a lifelong neurological disability that was predicted to leave him paraplegic. Thankfully, I refused to accept the senseless medical advice I was getting from respected but narrowly trained experts. With only my marketing credentials, I pursued neurological, psychological, and sociological research. I studied Eastern and Western techniques and talked to both patients and practitioners around the world to validate my cross-disciplinary discoveries. The experts soon started to ask for my advice. Since 2019, I have passionately led The American Confidence Institute, and in 2022, am now also honored to be the Confidence Educator for both IT Cosmetics (a L’Oréal brand) and the American Distilling Institute. With 7 books, 2 TED talks, a popular podcast and various awards, I also train entrepreneurs at Wharton, MIT and several business innovation centers. Knowing how critical belonging and inclusion are to having real confidence, I also founded and now chair the ERG Leadership Alliance - the world’s largest association of employee (resource) group champions. We train ERG leaders, oversight managers, executive sponsors and allies how to build strong and sustainable employee groups (aka ERGs, BRGs, Affinity groups, employee networks, etc.). My goal is to empower smart, growth-minded people to have real confidence in all aspects of their lives. To book me for a speaking engagement, I am represented by The Robin Wolfson Agency. common misspellings: Alissa Alicia Elissa Allison Devere Daveer D'vere