Allan Karl found career success as an entrepreneur by creating one of America’s top 50 digital marketing agencies in the 1990s. He then sought more significant challenges outside of his C-Suite life. His next journey would span over three years and take him on his motorcycle across five continents and 35 countries alone.
Life on the open road and traveling to unfamiliar places is about taking chances, accepting risks, and feeling more connected with the world around you. Every stop at a new location on the road presents unique challenges that force you to overcome your fears, find a connection, and trust others to help guide you on your journey.
Throughout his journey, Allan discovered how easy it was to connect with people, build relationships and find support and assistance even in the most unlikely places. He was astounded by the kindness of humanity and experienced the power of human connection every day.
Today, Allan shares these discoveries and shows audiences how to do the same. Allan delivers exciting and inspirational keynote addresses that highlight the lessons he learned on the road. He shows you in three steps just how easy it is to connect with people and create an immediate rapport that makes friends, fans, and followers wherever you go. This is the secret to building meaningful relationships and genuine success that will foster greater collaboration among team members and dramatically improve communication in your organization.
Watch Allan In ActionAllan has always been optimistic, with a core belief in boundless possibilities.
His career took off when he started one of the top 50 digital agencies in the 1990s. His company grew quickly, with over 200 employees and offices in nine cities through the strategic acquisition of 14 other agencies.
Allan helped lead and close several rounds of venture and private equity financing, and the company was eventually acquired by Accenture.
As he sought to transition his life outside the C-Suite, Allan was ready to venture out on a new journey.
Allan set off on what would become a three-year motorcycle journey traveling around the world.
He rode from California to the Arctic Circle at the top of the world down to the end of the world at the bottom of South America—and well beyond.
Although Allan set off on this adventure as a solo traveler, he soon discovered he was never alone. Because even in the most dangerous parts of the world, he found how easy it is to connect with people, with humanity.
Not only did he quickly make friends on the road and establish life-long relationships. Allan discovered that most people he met went out of their way to talk to him, offer help, guide him, and even invite him into their homes for a home-cooked meal and a comfortable place to sleep.
Allan’s journey led him to many forks on the road. There were genuine moments of fear, self-doubt, and danger.
Several accidents and injuries made him question whether his journey had ended or if he had the courage and resilience to continue. However, the daily reminders of the true kindness of strangers of people helped him make sense of his life changes.
He found strength and possibilities by recognizing the importance of trusting others and himself.
Gun-toting Colombian guerrillas escorted Allan into the jungle, the mayor of a small town guided him to safety when he got lost in the Arctic Circle, and young kids watched after him after he broke his leg in Bolivia.
Regardless of where he traveled, when he needed help, it was always there.
Allan’s initial journey lasted three years, and despite the many setbacks and accidents, he eventually found his way back home to California.
While his time on the road was never short of adventure, there was no more incredible thrill or delight than the thrill of connecting with people.
Sharing experiences, food, ideas, conversations, and help when others need it is at the heart of Allan’s daily routine, even at home.
After three years of traveling the world alone on a motorcycle, Allan didn’t see it as the end of his journey; he found it was just the beginning of his new journey—to share his message of human connection and how important it is to recognize its power.
In his keynote speeches, Allan shares his message of connection with captivating storytelling and award-winning photography that touch themes of adventure, personal growth, creativity, innovation, tolerance, resilience, effective communication, travel as education, and the importance of following dreams and pursuing passions.
The real truth is that it’s easy to connect with people—humanity—even in the most challenging situations. Allan shows audiences how to use the power of connection to achieve their goals and realize success.
Today, Allan inspires corporate audiences to leverage the power of human connection to build stronger relationships with coworkers, customers, and leaders.
He highlights the importance of embracing change, stepping outside their comfort zone, and trusting themselves and others.
As organizations experience global changes on a greater scale each year, Allan’s keynote presentations combine engaging storytelling with real-world inspiration to help audiences face challenges with greater confidence and form more meaningful connections with each other.