MEET ALYSSA
Raised by two entrepreneurial parents, some of Alyssa’s fondest memories involve dinnertime conversations of budding business ideas, where despite her young age, Alyssa felt genuinely involved and valued. While it would take another 14 years and a successful career in IT before Alyssa could bestow those same sentiments onto others, Premier Connects is now the elevated version of her childhood dinner table, inviting meaningful conversations and welcomed perspectives to and from some of the leading CIO’s across the world.
But it didn’t come without its own set of speed bumps along the way.
Faced with a new (to her) business (Premier Connects has been around for over 20 years) and a rapidly declining need for in-person events following the 2019 pandemic—Alyssa pivoted seemingly overnight to turn Premier Connects into an exclusively virtual platform for IT leaders and companies. While others were forced to cancel events and postpone speaking engagements, Premier Connects offered lifelines to executives. Within just a few months, Premier Connects tackled inclusion with forums such as Women In Tech and Diversity In Tech; and difficult topics boldly addressing gender inequality, depression, and mental health.
Through the limitless capability afforded by virtual events, leaders in IT can now connect, brainstorm, network, and learn from the brightest in their field without ever leaving their corner office or home. Since acquiring Premier Connects in 2018, Alyssa and her team have made it their mission to take Premier past one and done events, instead igniting a movement of community well past a singular forum or topic, to truly build lasting, impactful connections.
