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Alissa Ausan Anderson
Managing Director, Subaru at Carmichael Lynch
Alissa Ausan Anderson is the Managing Director for Subaru at Carmichael Lynch, an advertising agency based in Minneapolis.1 She describes herself as an entrepreneurial leader who enjoys exploring innovative opportunities for her clients.1
Professional Background
Alissa has been involved in the advertising industry for several years, with a focus on client management and innovation. Her role as Managing Director for Subaru suggests she leads strategic initiatives and client relationships for this major automotive account at Carmichael Lynch.
Recent Activities
In 2023, Alissa joined the Mahtomedi Area Educational Foundation (MAEF) Board of Directors, demonstrating her commitment to community involvement and education.2 Her engagement with MAEF began when her children started attending school in the district, highlighting her personal connection to the cause.
Personal Interests
Outside of her professional life, Alissa has a diverse set of interests and roles:
- She describes herself as a mother of "Ladybabies"
- An enthusiast for sharks and brewery exploration
- A marathon runner
- Identifies as a "Norwegian Ninja"3
Alissa is active on social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter (X), where she shares professional updates and personal insights. Her Twitter bio also mentions that she's an "ad woman in Mpls" (Minneapolis), confirming her location and profession.3
Personal Traits
Alissa appears to be an outspoken individual, noting on her Twitter profile that she has many opinions, which are her own.3 This suggests she's not afraid to voice her thoughts and take stands on various issues.
Overall, Alissa Ausan Anderson comes across as a multifaceted professional who balances a successful career in advertising with active community involvement and diverse personal interests.
Highlights
Reflecting on Mother’s Day while I get back in the swing of my other big job this Monday morning, a few rogue French toast crumbs likely still trapped in my bed somewhere.
There is already a lot of content out here accurately describing the challenges of working motherhood and the mythical (IMO) notion of balancing these facets of our life. So with a nod to that, I’m here to offer an additive take.
What I find myself reflecting on nearly every post-Mom’s Day Monday is that even though we talk a lot about work-life--especially when it comes to motherhood that includes work outside the home—it’s fundamentally ALL life.
We work hard (and often in those invisible ways) to raise good humans, to be a steady presence while they navigate the adventure of discovering the wider world and who they’re becoming. We work to imbue magic in their moments.
And we exist in our professional worlds. A place where—if we’re lucky, which I feel I very much am—we are also continually becoming ourselves. In creative careers at least, we get a place where we can be curious and bring our own wonder to the work. And I’d argue every career can be a creative one, but that’s for a separate conversation. :)
And that’s what I find myself the most grateful for this Mother’s Day—that pursuing both parts of me at once—no matter how sometimes exhausting and usually messy—makes me better at each. I get to tap into the wonder and playfullness my kids bring out in me to do better work. I get to lead from a place of constant awareness that I don’t know all the answers, rather I get to help my teams realize their own power as problem solvers. I get to bring home a version of me that’s nurtured by all the ways I continue to grow in my professional pursuits and participate in culture. I’d like to think this helps me make my kids’ world just a bit bigger.
And I work at a company (and with clients) who embrace these awesome, messy realities and create space for the families that are always with us in some capacity. Even though my kids would offer very entertaining definitions of what I do for work, I love that they they would count some of my closest colleagues as their personal friends.
So with all respect to how challenging it continues to be and how much change is still needed at scale to embrace working motherhood in society, I wanted to offer this in honor of all of us working mamas who parent and lead with the same heart. Who create the “villages” we all need, who make the tents or tables bigger. Who help our kids find their voice by realizing the growing power of our own. This is all work and it’s all life. And I’m so grateful to be living this life. Happy Mother’s Day.
Please vote for the Longest Wait for a Shorty Awards! 1) it's an incredible piece of work for an amazing brand; 2) irony! #longestforshorty Carmichael Lynch / Subaru of America
