Dalene Allen

Dalene Allen

Dalene is a master connector, business mentor, and sought-after speaker with over four decades of entrepreneurial and sales experience. She is the founder of Networking Naturally, a business dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and professionals transform their connections into revenue-generating relationships. Through keynote talks, coaching, and workshops, Dalene empowers others in the areas of goal setting, attitude, resilience, business skills, presentation skills, sales, and networking.

Raised in Glen Margaret, Nova Scotia, Dalene’s entrepreneurial journey began in her parents’ shop, The Killick Gift Shop, where her mother sold locally made crafts – long before “shop local” was a movement. As the eldest of seven daughters, she was reminded daily, “Set an example, you have six younger sisters.” Her leadership skills developed early, along with a love of storytelling and a knack for making people laugh.

Dalene’s childhood was shaped by frequent moves as a Navy officer’s daughter. She began school in Aylmer, PQ at a Catholic convent where, as a left-handed and dyslexic child, she faced challenges with both learning and conformity. Her mother’s fierce advocacy helped her embrace her uniqueness, and today she credits her dyslexia as a creative superpower. Dalene skipped grades and graduated high school at just 16, already dreaming big.

Her early career included management training with Sears, running the United Cigar Store in Ottawa’s Château Laurier Hotel – official supplier to the Prime Minister and serving royalty, celebrities, and political leaders with poise. In Montreal, she became a buyer for a major textile firm, traveling Europe and learning not only the global fashion trade but also what toxic leadership looks like. That experience sparked her desire to work for herself.

When Dalene returned to Nova Scotia, her friend suggested she try Mary Kay Cosmetics. She didn’t drive, didn’t know anything about makeup, and started by bus and bicycle. What followed was an extraordinary career: building a $5 million sales organization in five countries, earning a Pink Cadillac and 16 career cars, and achieving the Million Dollar Unit status 14 times—a global record. She was mentored personally by Mary Kay Ash and became known as “Mary Kay’s Canadian Dalene.” Her total career earnings with the company exceeded $4 million.

Dalene is a 20-time Top 10 Director and has been awarded:

·         Circle of Excellence – 18 times (14 as a Million Dollar Unit)

·         Circle of Achievement – 4 times

·         Court of Sharing – 22 times (including 3 times as Queen of Sharing)

·         Director Court of Personal Sales – 1 time

·         Queen of Directors – 11 times

After selling her Mary Kay business, Dalene purchased a BNI franchise with her husband and led a region of the largest referral networking organization in the world until July 2025. She now devotes herself fully to Networking Naturally, helping others overcome the fear of networking and showing them how to create their own dream teams of referral partners.

Her work centers on the belief that your network is your net worth—and she teaches how to build it with authenticity, strategy, and heart.

Dalene offers 1:1 coaching, small group programs, and keynote speaking engagements, inspiring others to connect with confidence and grow sustainable, relationship-driven businesses.

Dalene is a mentor for Blk Women in Excellence, Futurepreneaur, ISANS – for which she served on the panel for the Immigrant Entrepreneurship Awards, and is a connector with the Halifax Partnership. She has been nominated for an award with Atlantic Business Magazine and is a seven-time nominee for RBC’s Women of Influence.

You can find out more about Dalene and Networking Naturally here: linktr.ee/daleneallen.