Alison Levine is no stranger to risk-taking. She has climbed peaks on every continent and has survived sub-zero temperatures, hurricane-force winds, sudden avalanches, and a career on Wall Street.

Surprisingly, Alison was born with a life-threatening heart condition that precluded most demanding physical activities. As a teenager, her health was so unstable that she was not even allowed to do such basic things as drive a car or walk up stairs. But 13 years after her initial diagnosis, she had surgery that changed her life and climbing stairs soon gave way to climbing mountains, a passion that Alison continued to pursue despite her initial health setbacks.

Over the next several years as she continued to climb the corporate ladder, Alison also pushed her limits on the world's highest peaks and soon became one of the most experienced female mountaineers in the country.

In 2002, Alison was invited to serve as the team captain of the first American Women's Everest Expedition, a history-making climb that would put her heart and her spirit to the test. An avid explorer and adventurer, Alison also traveled across the Arctic Circle for more than 100 miles to successfully reach the top of the world -- the geographic North Pole. In 2008 she made history as the first American to complete an arduous 600 mile ski-traverse along the "Messner Route" in west Antarctica to the bottom of the world -- the geographic South Pole. Her success in extreme environments is noteworthy given Alison suffers from Raynaud's Disease which causes the arteries that feed her fingers and toes to collapse in cold weather, leaving her at extreme risk for frostbite.

Alison's expeditions have been documented by more than 450 media outlets. She has appeared on The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, Fox, ABC News, CBS Evening News and her story has been the subject of articles in numerous publications including Oprah Magazine, National Geographic, Adventure, Lifetime Magazine, Sports Illustrated Woman, and Outside. Alison has earned many honors for her achievements and her ability to overcome adversity, including the Courage in Sports Award from the Anaheim Angels. She was once named one of San Francisco's Top Business Leaders Under 40 and was listed as one of Arizona's (her native state) Most Interesting People.

Ms. Levine's 20-year business career encompasses healthcare, technology and finance. She holds a bachelor's degree in social and behavioral sciences from the University of Arizona and a master's degree in business administration from Duke University. After earning her MBA she moved to New York to work for investment banking powerhouse Goldman Sachs. In 2003, she left Wall Street to serve as Deputy Finance Director for Arnold Schwarzenegger in his successful bid to become Governor of California (a challenge many considered more daunting than Everest).

In addition to founding Daredevil Strategies™ Alison is also the founder of the Climb High Foundation a nonprofit organization that trains jobless women in Africa to be mountain guides.