Alison Jones
Practical Inspiration
The name of Alison’s publishing company, Practical Inspiration, says it all. Alison brings passion to the stage, sharing what she's discovered about the extraordinary power of writing as a thinking tool. As someone who's run every day for over 5 years, she's well placed to talk about micro habits and how to design your work life for wellbeing.
Biography
Alison Jones is the author of the bestselling This Book Means Business (2018) and Exploratory Writing: Everyday magic for life and work (2022). She is passionate about the value of both reading and writing for leaders, and particularly the extraordinary power of exploratory writing as a tool for thinking. In her keynote talks she shares this passion along with practical advice that everyone in the audience can take away.
As host of The Extraordinary Business Book Club, a podcast and community for writers and readers of extraordinary business books, and a former head judge of the Business Book Awards, Alison has perhaps the most comprehensive knowledge of the latest business thinking of any speaker and host in the UK. This makes Alison the ideal host, moderator and interviewer for events featuring business authors, leaders and thinkers.
Alison also features frequently in the media, appearing on the BBC’s The Bottom Line as an expert on business books, and in a huge range of print and online publications, and podcasts, talking about her approach and her books.
Speaking
Alison shares her passion alongside practical advice that everyone will value.
Hosting
Alison is the perfect interviewer and moderator on business topics.
Broadcast
Alison is an experienced on-air performer for radio, TV or podcasts.
Topics
Alison is most frequently asked to talk about the power of exploratory writing, giving audiences the inspiration and the tools to use this incredible technique. Exploratory writing has a range of applications, giving it relevance to a lot of audiences/events.
Alison also speaks to the value of business books as a medium and as a marketing tool. Having run every day for over 5 years now, she's passionate about harnessing the power of microhabits, the small daily routines and commitments that shape our lives for better or worse. And she is comfortable hosting and moderating events across a wide range of business topics
Some example subjects include:
Wellbeing
A way to manage your own mind
Coaching
A tool for yourself and for coaches to teach their clients.
Entrepreneurialism
A way to access your own wisdom and resourcefulness.
Example Videos
Publications
Alison’s first book, This Book Means Business (2018), showed readers how to plan and write a book that works for their own business. Hugely popular, this bestseller was endorsed by Seth Godin and remains the starting point for many business authors.
Alison’s second book, Exploratory Writing: Everyday magic for life and work (2022) has also captured the attention of many leading business thinkers, being endorsed by Daniel H. Pink and Robert Cialdini.
What do you get when you book Alison to speak?
Alison is most commonly asked to keynote but she is happy to chair panels or interview other speakers on stage, while she is at the event.
Alison is an experienced speaker with an audience of her own who is happy to work with you to help you promote your event.
This can include:
Pre-event video
Co-operation in pre-event PR and media interviews
Contributed articles for event blogs or programmes
Promotion on social media
Feedback
“Alison is a skilled moderator who puts thorough preparation into the sessions she is chairing, gaining a detailed understanding of her panellists’ core interests, yet still manages to ensure the conversation feels natural, fluid and effortless. An active listener, she has an engaging manner that puts speakers at ease and always gets the best out of them.”
Frances Hedges, Executive Editor, Harper's Bazaar
“Alison is a fantastic interviewer – she gets to what she knows people want to hear/read through brilliant questions, never aggressive ones, demonstrating the thoroughness of her research. I have been interviewed many times and by many people – Alison is the best.”
David Taylor, 'The Naked Leader'
“Alison chaired the morning of The London Book Fair's Quantum Conference. She is the ultimate professional, delivering all that was asked and more, and in a friendly enthusiastic, knowledgeable manner. Additionally, she led an in conversation on the day, around the rise of non fiction in both books and TV, which was quality, informed and perfectly delivered.”
Orna O’Brien, (former) Conference Manager, London Book Fair
“Alison gave an entertaining and inspiring talk to my Women in Business group recently. Everyone in the room really engaged with her talk and we all came away highly enthusiastic about writing a book and knowing that it can really help to build our businesses. She gave us lots of tips on what we need to do before we start and how to use a book strategically so it is part of our business and not merely an adjunct.”
Emma Cox
