Alison Crovetti

Alison Crovetti is a Learning and Development leader with over a decade of experience in global organizations. In her most recent role at Save the Children, a $1B international NGO whose mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, she led the design and execution of the learning strategy for U.S. Government business development across the entire organization of 15,000 staff. Alison facilitated in-person workshops and trainings in the U.S. and nine other countries, and delivered virtual sessions to teams in over 30 countries with cultural sensitivity and inclusive facilitation. She also co-led Raise the Children, the organization’s caregiver employee resource group, growing membership to over 150 and successfully advocating with executive leadership for enhanced caregiver benefits. Alison is a three-time President’s Award winner, recognized for excellence in leadership, collaboration, and innovation.

She brings an entrepreneurial spirit to her work, most notably as co-founder of Rione Pizza, a Roman-style pizzeria that won Best of Philly in 2018 from Philadelphia Magazine and was featured in Food & Wine, Eater Philly, and on Good Morning America. Alison holds a Master’s in Public Management from SDA Bocconi in Milan, Italy, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Legal Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. A dual U.S.–Italian citizen originally from Allentown, PA, she has lived in Australia, Italy, and Tanzania, with professional experience across the UK, Kenya, Zambia, Laos, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. She is currently exploring new opportunities in the private sector, with a focus on learning and development, culture and engagement, and organizational effectiveness. Outside of work, Alison enjoys travel, trying new foods, reading, and spending time with her husband Francesco and their two children, Massimo (6) and Enzo (4).

What are you most proud of?

What I’m most proud of is the resilience and empathy I’ve developed through some of the most challenging seasons of my life, both personally and professionally. In 2016, my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and shortly after, my husband and I opened a Roman-style pizzeria in Philadelphia while I was still working full-time and growing in my career. We had our first child in 2018, and then, like many families, were deeply affected by the pandemic in 2020. My parents moved in with us during that time, which added new layers of complexity, caregiving, and emotional weight. We welcomed our second child in 2021, and through all of it, I learned how to adapt, lead through uncertainty, and remain grounded in what matters most.

What carried me through was building community, whether through my work, our business, or my personal life, and showing up for others with compassion. These experiences shaped how I lead, how I support teams, and how I navigate challenges. They reminded me that strength isn’t just about pushing through. It’s about staying connected, setting boundaries, taking care of yourself, and supporting others along the way.

When you were a kid, what was your dream job?

As a kid, I vacillated between wanting to be an actress (despite having no real interest in acting) and a lawyer. My aunt was a lawyer in Los Angeles, and I thought it was such a cool profession. Courtroom dramas like Law and Order SVU added to the appeal. I studied law and psychology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, worked at a law firm for two years after graduation, and took the LSATs. Ultimately, I realized it wasn’t my passion and pivoted to management and international development, earning a master’s in management from SDA Bocconi University in Milan.

Now that I have kids of my own, I try not to ask them what they want to be when they grow up. While careers matter, I don’t want them to feel boxed in too early. I encourage them to think about the kind of person they want to be, and I believe that mindset will help guide them to the right path.

What drew you to a role in L&D?

I was encouraged by my supervisor to apply for a vacant Learning and Development role supporting our organization’s business development efforts for U.S. government funding. At the time, I was in a reporting and analysis position, which gave me valuable experience, but I found myself craving more opportunities to be creative, strategic, and people-focused. I was really grateful that my supervisor saw my potential. Moving into L&D allowed me to build skills in facilitation, instructional design, and learning strategy, while helping teams improve their performance through relevant, targeted learning experiences.

That first step into L&D opened the door to so much more. I was able to contribute to culture-building efforts, lead change management initiatives, and design and deliver trainings across both our U.S. and international offices. It’s been incredibly rewarding to create programs that support individual growth while driving broader organizational impact.

Who do you turn to for professional guidance or advice? (Could be a manager, a colleague, a friend, an author, etc.)

I'm fortunate to have a strong circle of support when it comes to professional advice. I often turn to my dad, sisters, and husband, all of whom know me well and offer thoughtful, grounded perspectives. I also lean on close friends from high school and college, who bring different lenses to my decision-making and help me stay true to my values. In addition, I’ve built strong networks of former colleagues and supervisors who understand my work style and professional goals. Their insights are especially valuable when I need trusted, experience-based guidance on navigating workplace dynamics or planning my next steps.

How long have you been an ATD national and/or chapter member?

I joined the ATD-Greater Philadelphia chapter this June.

What has been your experience as a volunteer with the ATD-PHL chapter? (What have you done so far, and what would you like to do in the future?)

I hit the ground running with the ATD-PHL chapter and couldn’t be happier to be part of such an insightful and supportive community. So far, I’ve attended two in-person events that were both inspiring and educational. I also started volunteering with the Marketing team, where I’ve contributed to creating promotional materials like the flyer for our August webinar. Looking ahead, I’m excited to deepen my involvement by supporting more chapter initiatives, helping to expand member engagement, and leveraging my skills to contribute to the chapter’s growth and impact.

If you could take one prop from any movie (or TV show) set, what would you take?

I love this question. As someone who really enjoys prestige TV, it was hard to narrow down an answer. At the risk of cheating since it’s technically a collection of props, I would say Carrie Bradshaw’s wardrobe from Sex and the City. If you asked me which sets I’d like to travel to, it would be Game of Thrones, Succession, and White Lotus.