Some people spend their 20s finding themselves; Alex Kremer spent his shaking up Silicon Valley—and meditating along the way.
“I join Microsoft straight out of college, basically as an Account Executive for cloud tech,” says Kremer, Founder and CEO of Alluviance. “I’m 25, and most people on my team are nearly twice my age. I’m out there working with major San Francisco-area customers, and I become one of the fastest-promoted sales reps in my hiring class.”
He calls that first leap into tech “the start of something bigger.” “I wanted to lead, but I was also hungry to learn,” he explains. “Nothing about the jump from a college grad to working with huge clients felt normal, but it taught me to push beyond my comfort zone.”
From Microsoft to a Breakout Startup
“I leave Microsoft and join a little-known Seattle startup called Outreach,” Kremer says. “I’m around employee number 150, and I make it my mission to land a management role as soon as possible. Mentoring younger sellers was always in my blood—I get the chance to build out the SMB team to about 30 reps, and after two years, the company asks me to open the Manhattan office.”
He nearly declines that New York offer: “I’m thinking, ‘I don’t want to live in NYC,’” he admits. “But something tells me I need the experience. My team ends up being number one across the whole company, two years in a row.”
Through it all, Kremer maintains a not-so-hidden edge: personal development. “I’ve been doing the inner work for five years by then, attending over 150 retreats and working with coaches,” he says. “I start each meeting with breathwork, talk about having a vision and prioritizing mental health—real ‘inner game’ stuff. That’s how I discover how potent it can be to combine community, strong sales technique, and deep self-awareness.”
Launching Alluviance
“My podcast, The Rising Leader, is where it starts,” he explains. “I launch it before going full-time on Alluviance, and it becomes a top 100 podcast for sales reps. Then in February 2023, I throw the first immersion retreat—just a three-day event. By November, around 75 sales professionals, leaders, and founders have attended. Another 50 sign up for Aspire, our yearlong program. That’s when I decide to go all in.”
Alluviance, he says, is all about fostering a balanced mindset: “We help sales professionals, leaders, and founders master the craft of selling, but we also flip the script on how they show up as people,” he adds. “Our immersions combine cold plunges, breathwork, and meditation with advanced strategies for connecting with Fortune 500 executives. Ultimately, it’s about pushing folks to become the greatest versions of themselves—in work, in relationships, everywhere.”
The Sacred Formula of Community, Craft, and Inner Game
“I realized I wanted to create a space that merges serious sales excellence with the personal transformation that’s changed my life,” he says. “That’s why we do weekly calls, one-on-one coaching, and keep a Slack community active every day. When you blend that sense of belonging with top-tier sales craft, you get breakthroughs that go way beyond just closing deals.”
Advice for Rising Entrepreneurs
“Before anything else, you have to be sold on your own vision,” Kremer says. “You can talk big about solving real problems or making a ton of money, but if you aren’t truly convinced of your purpose, it’ll fall flat when things get tough.”
He also stresses the power of leading by example: “If you’re building a brand based on authenticity, you’d better live it. People can smell inauthenticity a mile away. Show them the real work you’re doing, not just the highlight reel.”
Teachers and mentors are part of Kremer’s secret sauce: “I’ve had so many guides who gave me the answers before the test. My main teacher, Rob Renahan, has shown me how to combine practical business sense with heart and wisdom. That’s the kind of leadership that leaves a mark.”
He believes genuine openness cultivates stronger bonds: “The best leaders I know are the ones who say, ‘I’m scared right now, or I made a mistake—here’s what I learned.’ That vulnerability does more for team unity than any motivational pep talk.”
Written in partnership with Tom White
