Career Change & Business Advice for Women | Second Act Success Podcast How to Turn Your Corporate Experience Into a Business with Allison Lane | #266
Aug 17, 2026
Allison Lane, a PR and marketing veteran who now helps leaders become visible authors and speakers. She talks about turning corporate experience into a business. Conversation covers recognizing transferable skills, building your personal brand before leaving, and using podcasts and communities to grow visibility.
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Humble PR Beginnings Fueled Rapid Learning
- Allison began her PR career in New York at a global agency making $21,000 as the assistant-to-the-assistant and operating the fax machine.
- She used that entry role to learn quickly and look two levels up, aiming for the next promotion and responsibility.
Yes Leads To Unexpected On Camera Training
- Saying yes to assignments led Allison to a six-month fully funded media tour that became an intensive on-camera training ground.
- That exposure accelerated her skills and revealed burnout from constant travel, shaping later career choices.
Summer In-House Role Taught Business PR Under Pressure
- A summer in-house assignment at Quaker Oats taught Allison how PR fits into overall business and prepped her to be a company spokesperson.
- She learned to handle on-deadline journalist calls and to know just enough to respond under pressure.