Kate Allison

Kate Allison’s native talent is her astute ability to foresee trees and forests simultaneously. She insightfully connects dots across complex stakeholder groups, anticipating possibilities and barriers alike and is a motivating leader who knows how to positively engage diversely talented people toward collaborative results. The approach she brings clients blends her strategic insight with a penchant for news, data, facts and a career full of extraordinary experiences.

Kate is a behind the scenes confidant and advisor to executive leaders and provides counsel and strategic plans to build and protect the reputations of a diverse range of companies and organizations. She works with clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to venture enterprises providing strategic planning, leadership communications, content marketing, public affairs, earned media, issues and crisis management and community relations. She also directs the business affairs of the agency.

Karma’s client portfolio is largely comprised of national and global brands. Karma’s revenues place the agency in the top 20 largest women-owned businesses in Greater Philadelphia and the firm is the largest independent woman-owned strategic communications firm in the region, as well is an across the board top-ranked agency.

Kate founded Alta Communications in 1999, the foremother of the Karma Agency through the acquisition of the Philadelphia office of Golin/Harris, a top 10 international public relations firm. Previously, as the managing director of that office, she directed communication programs for global companies including dominant brands in financial services, health care, environment, energy, higher education, manufacturing, non-profits, environment, and consumer products. Before going agency-side, Kate spent 10 years at a super-regional bank and was Vice President of Public Affairs.

Active in civic and community endeavors, Kate is vice chair of the Board of Managers of The Philadelphia Foundation, a member of the Villanova University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Advisory Council and a member of the Board of Summer Search. She is also a founding member of the Paradigm Award for Business Leadership and Excellence sponsored by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. In 2016, she was the recipient of the American Business Awards Silver Woman of the Year for businesses with less than 100 employees. And she was the 2004 recipient of the Ethos Award for Integrity and Excellence in Communications presented by Villanova University. Kate holds a B.A in political science from Villanova University. She also worked as a legislative assistant in the Washington office of then-U.S. Rep. Al Gore, Jr. Kate is married and the mother of young adults.