TEDx Speaker and Inclusion Superwoman, Alycia Anderson is on a mission to bring attention to the importance of inclusion in our society. As the CEO of The Alycia Anderson Company, and host of the podcast “Pushing Forward with Alycia”, she works tirelessly to keep inclusivity on the forefront of today’s world. Alycia uses her disability to push beyond the traditional boundaries and forge a new path. Her podcast, “Pushing Forward with Alycia” which began as a simple passion project to start a conversation of what inclusivity and diversity really means and turned into a powerful voice in the community and will be celebrating its 100th episode on July 31st. Her life is an inspiration to anyone that is lucky enough to cross paths with her.
HI, WELCOME TO ABOUT INSIDER! THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CHAT WITH US! CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, WHO IS ALYCIA ANDERSON IN YOUR OWN WORDS?
I’m an everyday adventurer on wheels, part keynote speaker, part disability advocate, part unabashed optimist. Born a proud disabled woman and identical twin, I’ve rolled through life with curiosity, empathy, and a touch of stubborn determination, refusing to let curb cuts literal or figurative set my limits. Away from the stage, you’ll catch me chasing endorphins on a tennis court or cycling trail, sharing laughs with my husband, and testing ideas that help re‑imagine what inclusion can look like in work and play.
Professionally, I wear a few hats: founder and CEO of The Alycia Anderson Company, host of the “Pushing Forward with Alycia” podcast, and an entrepreneur developing tools to make the workforce more accessible. Through consulting, immersive keynotes, and a forthcoming digital training suite, I partner with organizations to dismantle outdated mindsets around disability, weaving diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) into the fabric of everyday operations. My goal is simple yet bold: turn the lived experience of disability into rocket fuel for creativity, community, and bottom‑line growth.
At the heart of everything I do is a belief that difference is an asset, not a liability, and that innovation is born in inclusive spaces where every voice is valued. Whether I’m collaborating with Fortune 500 brands, serving on California’s Insurance Diversity Task Force, or coaching the next generation of advocates through upcoming master‑course cohorts, my mission remains the same: show the world that when we remove barriers, everyone rises.
YOU’VE BECOME A LEADING VOICE IN THE DISABILITY INCLUSION MOVEMENT. WHAT FIRST INSPIRED YOU TO TURN YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES INTO A GLOBAL MISSION FOR CHANGE?
I came of age fifteen years before the Americans with Disabilities Act existed, when every curb, classroom doorway, and sideways glance reminded me that the world wasn’t engineered for wheelchairs or for little girls with big ambitions who used them. Those daily obstacle courses were more than physical; they were social and professional barricades that told me, in subtle and not‑so‑subtle ways, to lower my sights. At the time I didn’t have the language for it, but I felt the weight of policies that ignored people like me and mindsets that confused inaccessibility with inevitability.
When the ADA finally became law, the contrast between the old reality of exclusion and the new possibilities it unlocked was electric. I realized the hurdles I’d been navigating weren’t personal shortcomings; they were design flaws in our communities, workplaces, and collective imagination. That insight flipped my story from “Alycia versus the staircase” to “Alycia redesigns the staircase” a blueprint for change that reached far beyond my own life. Once you taste true inclusion, you crave it for everyone, and I could no longer accept a world where anyone felt “othered” or unseen in spaces where they absolutely belong.
Today my mission is to turn that early fire into systemic transformation. I use my lived experience as both a spotlight and a lever illuminating inequities and shifting the structures that once felt immovable. Whether I’m speaking onstage, consulting with Fortune 500 companies, or mentoring the next generation of advocates, the goal is the same: replace the question “Why isn’t there space for me?” with a rallying cry of “Let’s build a bigger table.” Because when we redesign our environments to welcome everybody and every voice, innovation isn’t the exception, it’s the standard.
CONGRATULATIONS ON REACHING 100 EPISODES OF PUSHING FORWARD WITH ALYCIA! WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST POWERFUL MOMENT OR LESSON SHARED ON THE PODCAST SO FAR?
Thank you! With the 100‑episode milestone now just around the corner, the show feels like a tiny passion project that grew up fast and found its voice. One lesson that keeps surfacing is that resilience isn’t about “overcoming” disability; it’s about living fully within it and letting it power your purpose. Guests like Andraéa LaVant and Chantelle Johnson have demonstrated how identity, intersectionality, and bold leadership can spark real change, both inside boardrooms and across communities.
My favorite mic‑drop moment came when Andraéa said, “Resilience isn’t bouncing back; it’s rolling forward with the dents.” That single line captures why the podcast exists. Every guest turns lived experience into a masterclass, proving that disability culture is a fountain of innovation and a playbook for building community, opportunity, and progress long after the episode ends.
YOU OFTEN SAY THAT DISABILITY IS NOT A LIMITATION BUT A SOURCE OF STRENGTH AND INNOVATION. CAN YOU SHARE A PERSONAL STORY THAT REFLECTS THIS BELIEF?
Across more than thirty years in corporate life my disability and living my life using a wheelchair have been an amplifiers, not an anchors, such as turning a modest waitressing job working my way through college into an international news story that drew record tips and how it later helped me shatter bias and stigma throughout the western region of our country in a field‑marketing role as I’d set up brand displays in c-stores, master industrial coffee equipment, and top sales charts for doing it.
These lived experiences I’ve gained with my disability have shaped my perspective to power a rise into executive suites where my deeper empathy excelled in anticipating client needs and helped companies find their ways into multi-million dollar acquisitions. My disability has ultimately propelled me with the courage to build my own inclusive company with no precedent, role model or example to aspire to be.
Disability alone does not guarantee innovation, but for those who have the courage to see beyond the limitations that ableism places on it, they most definitely may find the springboard to beyond the ordinary.
YOU’VE WORKED WITH MAJOR BRANDS LIKE AT&T, HYATT, AND VICTORIA’S SECRET. WHAT DO YOU THINK COMPANIES GET WRONG AND RIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO DISABILITY INCLUSION?
What companies often get wrong is thinking of disability inclusion as a compliance checkbox instead of a cultural mindset. They may build ramps but forget to build pathways to leadership for disabled employees. They may recruit talent but fail to create a sense of belonging. What they get right , and what I love to see , is when companies listen to lived experiences and integrate accessibility into the DNA of their business. Brands like Victoria’s Secret and Hyatt are beginning to recognize that inclusion drives innovation, customer loyalty, and profitability.
Wrong: Treating accessibility like salad dressing, add it at the end and hope it tastes okay.
Right: Baking inclusion into the recipe from day one. AT&T, Hyatt, Victoria’s Secret they’re learning that authentic representation, accessible tech, and leadership pathways create loyal customers and happier teams. Quick wins are great, but systemic wins are where the magic (and ROI) really live.
AS A MEMBER OF CALIFORNIA’S INSURANCE DIVERSITY TASK FORCE, HOW ARE YOU WORKING TO CREATE SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN THE BUSINESS WORLD?
Our mission is to push for equity, representation, and supplier diversity in one of the country’s most influential industries. My role is to bring the lived experience of disability to these conversations and ensure that people with disabilities are included in the broader framework of diversity. We’re working to expand opportunities for disabled‑owned businesses, promote inclusive procurement practices, and create pathways for marginalized groups to not just participate in the economy but to thrive in it.
Insurance touches every corner of business. If we can make this sector consciously inclusive from supplier diversity goals to executive pipelines we set a precedent other industries can copy paste. I bring the disability lens to the boardroom so policies don’t overlook the 1 in 4 Americans with disabilities.
YOUR DIGITAL TRAINING SUITE AND UPCOMING BOOK SHOW YOUR DRIVE TO MAKE INCLUSION EDUCATION SCALABLE. WHAT CAN ORGANIZATIONS EXPECT FROM THESE NEW RESOURCES?
These tools are designed to meet organizations where they are and help them grow. The digital training suite provides actionable strategies for embedding inclusion into daily operations, from accessible hiring practices to inclusive leadership development. My upcoming book combines my personal journey with lessons learned from decades of advocacy, creating a resource that’s part memoir, part guidebook for cultural transformation. Organizations can expect practical steps, powerful storytelling, and a call to action they can’t ignore.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, HOW DO YOU RECHARGE? WHAT ROLE DO SPORTS LIKE TENNIS AND CYCLING PLAY IN YOUR WELL‑BEING AND MINDSET AS A LEADER?
Sports have always been my sanctuary. Tennis and cycling keep me grounded and remind me of my strength, both physically and mentally. Whether I’m serving an ace or cruising a bike trail, sports remind me I’m capable, period. They give me space to process big ideas and keep my competitive spirit sharp. As a leader, these moments of movement and focus help me stay resilient and approach challenges with clarity and determination.
IF YOU COULD LEAVE OUR READERS WITH ONE MESSAGE ABOUT INCLUSION AND RESILIENCE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Inclusion is not charity, it’s opportunity. Accessibility isn’t a favor, it’s a forward‑thinking business strategy. And resilience isn’t about “getting back up”; it’s about thriving where you are, with what you have, and using it to make a difference. Every single one of us has the power to create change, but it starts with a willingness to see value in others and in ourselves.
