A lesson on perseverance, adaptability, and the future of work

When Glenn Allison ’94 stepped back onto the Lock Haven campus after decades away, it felt like coming home. The advisor for People’s Internet Experiment — a new company reimagining online advertising — recently capped Commonwealth University–Lock Haven’s ZIPD Business Conference with a reflection on how a degree in health and physical education became the unlikely foundation for a career in the global tech industry.

“It’s been more than thirty years since I’ve been in Lock Haven,” Allison said. “And I credit the Health and Physical Education Department for a large part of my success in technology.”

That connection between sports training and tech leadership became the heart of his talk — an ode to determination, perseverance, and adaptability.

Lessons from Microsoft’s Toughest Interviews

Allison recounted his early career challenges, especially his grueling path to joining Microsoft.

“It was the hardest interview process of my life,” Allison said. “Eight conversations where I thought, why would they hire someone with a P.E. degree?”

But it was precisely his background in physical education—the grit, endurance, and teamwork—that helped him stand out.

“What Lock Haven taught me about dealing with adversity …” he said, “carried me a lot further than some of the computer science degrees from Stanford or MIT.”

He went on to become a senior leader at Microsoft, later entrusted with one of the company’s toughest internal interview roles — the person responsible for assessing candidates’ adaptability beyond technical skills. It was a position that tested whether potential hires could thrive amid change, a skill he now insists is critical for career success in every industry.

The Power of Adaptability

Allison’s central message was simple and timeless ... success stems from the ability to adapt.

“The only thing that doesn’t change is change itself,” Allison said, urging students to embrace career uncertainty rather than fear it. “For better or for worse, Lock Haven doesn’t have the same resources as the elite universities. But that teaches you how to be creative with what you have. That creativity, that determination — it’s your advantage.”

Allison spoke of colleagues who rose through the ranks beside him, including one who now leads Google operations.

“What he wrote on my LinkedIn page was, ‘Glenn gets (it) done,’” Allison said. “And that’s the greatest compliment anyone can give. Because in business, that’s what matters.”

Building Resilience for an Uncertain Future

As artificial intelligence and automation reshape industries, Allison sees adaptability — not technical prowess — as the defining trait of tomorrow’s leaders.“

You’re going to deal with things you’ve never encountered before,” Allison said. “And that’s okay. The job you apply for might not be the one you end up doing. Be ready to stretch, take risks, and learn as you go.”

His advice was as straightforward as it was motivational.

“Embrace change, take ownership, and finish what you start,” Allison said. “I never wanted to be the smartest person in the room. I wanted to be the one who crossed the finish line, no matter what.”

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