Meet Allison Andrews Canter | Entrepreneur, Leader & Mother

We had the good fortune of connecting with Allison Andrews Canter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Allison, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Risk taking and calculated risk taking is critical to have any success. You have to shoot for the moon and even if you missed you are still amongst the stars. I will say when I started my career as a 19 year old entrepreneur it was all risk and ignorance that got me there. I was also stubborn and wouldn’t take no for an answer. I did what was not do-able by most. From that I have been able to leverage that to push myself and continue to take calculated risks aware of how rewarding the payoffs are. I had no real obligations when I was 19, other than making something of myself and creating a life for myself. It truly was a wonderful time to risk it all and go all in on myself. I bet on myself, my work ethic and my drive. Ultimately 21 years later we have proof it paid off. Yes, I had youth on my side, but regardless of age risk are never not going to be involved in business, it’s just our sensitivity to them and how calculated we are in taking them. I still at 40 years old and as entrepreneur take risks and find them just as critical in success today as back then.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My expertise is niche. In my 21 years as an entrepreneur I’ve been able to separate myself from the pack, by consistently building branded events for sales and marketing that take on a life of their own. Creating communities of likeminded people- it’s truly incredible. I started as an industry disruptor as the Founder of Fashion Week San Diego. I came up in an old way of producing fashion shows and challenged the giants to change, be better and then when they didn’t I did it myself with FWSD.
I came into an incredible established and long history of way things were done industry of Designer Runway Show Production and turned it upside down and reworked it to be not closed to just industry insiders, collaborative, inclusive, healthy was rewarded and safe. I didn’t lease space, but provided a drag and drop model that was equally profitable for all involved.
The biggest challenge was being told I couldn’t do it, because no one prior to me did it successful and with the respect, seal of approval from the industry. Then I did it. The next challenge was bing told it wouldn’t last, I couldn’t maintain and grow it. I grew it to be five days with 20,000 in attendance. Then I was told FWSD wouldn’t be sustainable and would eventually stop. I was able to over come the challenge by running it for 15 years and then selling it to another owner/ operator in 2021. This gives me the most satisfaction.
The lesson is small minds can’t understand big minds. Words mean nothing, let the actions do all the talking. Numbers don’t lie. My also lesson I share with all my clients is when you start any business you have two options. Either you sell or close. No one builds anything with sweat, blood and tears to watch it close when they are done. So build something to sell.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Let me first say I LOVE San Diego and we are so lucky to call this place on earth home. I always tell my kids they are growing up in a place people work their whole lives to retire in or save to vacation here. I especially love where I live North County Coastal of SD, Oceanside. It’s a classic California Beach town that has so much going on in its vibrant downtown. If I was hosting a guest we would start off with a morning smoothie & coffee at Banana Dang, honestly best smoothies and Americano in Oceanside. Then lunch would be outside at High/ Low followed by walking around the downtown, pier and beach prior to late afternoon sunset cocktails, DJ and apps with a view of the Pacific Ocean at The rooftop bar at the Mission Pacific Hotel. Dinner would be on time with are hard to get reservation at Dija Mar with there Southeast Asian flavors with Western flair and Japanese cooking techniques to create the unique, Balinese-Inspired menu. They also boast a Michelin star.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I love to shout out those who have been a part of my story and journey. It takes a village and also incredible mentors to fill the gaps we can’t get from just books or traditional education. The list is so long after 21 years of being a business owner and multiple businesses. I make a practice of daily gratitude and verbalizing thank you to those daily. For this, you know who you are and thank you for being a part of my story, community and journey.

Website: https://www.allisonandrewscanter.com

Instagram: allisonandrewscanter

Linkedin: allisonandrews

Other: take-ownership.com
podcast: Ownership on all platforms

Image Credits
656 PHOTOGRAPHY
DISCOVER SD
APA CONSULTING
Fashion Week San Diego
Canter Creative Group