Professional services pioneer
Janet Louise McAllister of Mill Valley, California, a pioneer in professional services as well as corporate management of knowledge resources, passed away unexpectedly on June 29 at age 73.
After earning her MBA from Berkeley, McAllister worked in sales and marketing at IBM, where she developed strategy, finance, and management expertise that allowed her to advance, in less than 14 years, to corporate vice president with global responsibilities. She was an innovator in the area of developing and managing human capital, becoming the first IBM executive to carry the position of chief knowledge officer. After leaving IBM in 1998, she worked as a business consultant with The Insight Group for a number of years before finally retiring in 2012.
McAllister was a mentor to many young entrepreneurs and a role model of vision and leadership. She and her husband, Bill, supported several local arts and healthcare organizations, and McAllister served on several boards, including the Haas Development Council for eleven years and the San Francisco Playhouse.