Q+A: Alexis Alfred on Career Journey
You know the girls you come across on Instagram and you immediately want to know their story, for us, Alexis is one of those girls. Maybe it’s her infectious smile or the digestible gems she drops on career development and mental health in the workplace, whatever it is she’s one of our faves to follow. Behind her wealth of knowledge which she shares on her biz IG account, comes years of experience in various fields plus mentorships. Prior to launching Alexis Alfred Consulting not only was she a family counselor, but also a member of NASA’s STEM team where she created communications strategies to help add diversity to the future of STEM. In the new path she is carving out for herself Alexis is using all she has learned on her incredible career journey to coach individuals to connect with their purpose and align their goals with their individuality. Keep reading below for more gems and how Alexis has pushed herself out of her comfort zone for the sake of her career advancement.
OTH: Tell us about yourself
AA: Hey, y’all! My name is Alexis Alfred. I’m a Communications Strategist, a Writer, and a Career Coach in Los Angeles, CA. I grew up being a dancer (ballet, jazz, contemporary) so the love of art and the beauty of self-expression are extremely important to me. I’m passionate about helping people and businesses define their purpose and create a foundation based on their individuality. My journey to where I am now has been very unique and I feel blessed and grateful to be in a position to share my story and hopefully inspire others.
OTH: As a mental health advocate, what are some of your tips for work-life balance?
AA: Setting boundaries is definitely #1 for me. Choosing to be firm about your do’s and don’ts is so important in creating a balance for yourself. In my own life, I’ve always been okay with a flexible schedule but I absolutely need my lunch break. At my first full-time job, I really struggled with the typical 9-5 hours and I felt so disappointed in not having time to myself during the day. One of my mentors gave me advice to look at my employer and myself as two people in a partnership. In any good partnership, both parties should walk away feeling fulfilled. So now, no matter where, I make sure that I take time during the day to step away from my desk to get some sunlight, eat lunch, workout or go for a drive. Mentally reframing your relationship to your job is a simple reset that can make a huge difference.
OTH: What are some of your mental wellness routines?
AA: Gratitude journaling is a new and really important element in my mental wellness routine. I’m naturally an over-thinker and that can be difficult to navigate as a creative. Gratitude helps me put everything into perspective. It reminds me of my intentions and my purpose. Even on days where I feel hazier than grounded, journaling plants my two feet on the ground. I’ve learned it’s much easier to give yourself and others grace when you know how blessed you are.
OTH: How has your past role as a family counselor helped develop your current approach to your career and daily life?
AA: It completely shaped my entire life, personally and professionally. It was a position that required me to be vulnerable and show up as my authentic self every day. The most important task for me was to always connect with the families I worked with. I quickly learned there’s no script or education that can teach you how to connect and build meaningful relationships. It required me to really be in tune with myself and bring all of myself to the table. It let the person on the other end know that they were welcome to do the same thing. It was a powerful lesson that goes beyond the job I had. When I show up as myself and I remain true to who I am there’s a confidence that is shown from that. It’s a really genuine position for your heart and mind to be in.
OTH: Describe your career journey in 3 words
AA: My career journey is aligned, meaningful, organic. Aligned because I truly feel that my journey isn’t one that could have been predicted or planned. The success I’ve had is because of faith, prayer, and remaining open in heart and mind. Holding those 3 values has opened so many doors for me. Meaningful: I’m the oldest of 4 siblings so my goal was to always have a career that shows my younger siblings that anything is possible. I wanted them to know that they can achieve anything they have their hearts and minds set on. I’m grateful I get to be a light for them and others now that I have my business and a platform to speak from. Organic because my career journey has always been very natural to where I’m at in my life. I’m a planner, so letting go of control and letting God work is an everyday practice for me. During my first career shift, I realized when I stopped trying to control everything and focus on what I could control (my professional development, my resume, interview prep, online classes) it significantly improved both my stress and the results of receiving what I was praying for. Organic also reminds me that every season of my career journey is meaningful. Maturing for me was realizing that the “wait” or pause between where I’m at and what I want is a beautiful thing. It gives me time to reflect, learn, and be present in that moment. There is no better time to prepare for your blessing than in your season of waiting.
OTH: What has been your biggest career leap thus far and what was the pay-off?
AA: The biggest leap for me was choosing to leave the mental health field to return to the field of Communications and Public Relations. I studied Communications and PR in college but the family counselor role was the only door that opened for me after graduating. I was there for a year and for the most part, I was planning to be in that lane permanently. It wasn’t what I truly wanted but it was stable and comfortable. Those feelings are actually the pieces that pushed me to apply to NASA. Stability and comfort are great, but sometimes they’re code words for “I don’t want to get out of my comfort zone.” I’ve learned since then that if my heart is set on growth, I choose the road that makes me uncomfortable.
OTH: Tell us about your time at NASA
AA: My time at NASA was incredible. My dad actually worked for NASA while I was growing up so it was always a dream of mine to be involved with NASA someday. I worked specifically for NASA’s STEM education efforts and I created communications strategies to help add diversity to the future of STEM. When I first joined, I was really worried that I’d have to unlearn my experiences and habits as a counselor. I felt I’d have this burden and disadvantage of having to erase what I knew and start over in a totally different field. While working there, I learned that I was hired because of my story. Those elements of my life I thought were disadvantages were really the most valuable pieces of myself. One project that I’m especially proud of accomplishing was a webinar I put together with leaders at NASA during black history month. Directors and engineers spent time talking to college students about their journeys to NASA, including the good, the bad, and the personal parts of their experiences. So many students reached out after the event and were so thankful to have a safe space created for them.
OTH: How has networking and mentorship played a role in your career growth?
AA: I credit all of my success to mentorship. After college, I was in a really unique position of knowing what I wanted to do with my education but not knowing what the journey to my goals looked like. I’m from a small town so there weren’t a lot of examples of what I wanted to be around me. The next year, I got accepted into the Sister Circle Media mentorship program that places black women as mentees with black women in executive leadership roles. It was my first step into my future. My sisters and mentors from that program are still women I go to for advice today. Networking was the secret ingredient to everything I’ve accomplished so far. I’m naturally an introvert so learning to network took time and practice for me. Networking requires a lot of vulnerability. I think one of the biggest misconceptions for college graduates is that you should know everything you need to know after you have your degree. It makes saying “I don’t know” really uncomfortable. To master networking is to master the concept of needing help and being comfortable with that. I learned that I needed help in certain areas but I was also able to pour into others in areas that I was really knowledgeable in.
OTH: Out of all of your passions, hobbies, and jobs which do you feel is your calling.
AA: I feel most aligned with my purpose when I’m helping others feel confident in themselves. Experiencing someone realizing their greatness and helping them share and inspire others is an amazing feeling. I think people would be shocked to know how much easier life can get when we stop being so hard on ourselves and choose to see what others see when we walk into a room. I love highlighting to a business or an individual the uniqueness of who they are. There is no one with your story and that’s what makes you the perfect fit for a job or what makes your business the right match for your target audience.
OTH: What led you to launch your consulting brand?
AA: It was really inspired by my friends. At the end of 2021, my best friend was debating on applying for a management role and we went through the whole process together. We discussed every element of her life, both personal and professional. It highlighted how this role was perfectly positioned for where she was at in her growth journey and what she wanted for the next step in her story. After a month, she called with the news she landed the job, with a raise and a new office. She ended our call with a sisterly nudge of “you need to get started” which was exactly what I needed.
OTH: Tell us more about your vision for Alexis Alfred Consulting?
AA: My vision is to help people as individuals and businesses connect with their purpose and align their goals with their individuality. I work in a few different lanes with career coaching and communications strategy development, but the base of what I achieve with my clients is the same. One of the downfalls of corporate culture is it tends to take the personal pieces out of business experiences. With every sale and with every job application submitted, there’s still a person on each end of this deal. My vision is to help individuals and businesses let efforts flow from the heart. It ties back to my personal experiences, I provide my clients my expertise as someone with experience in counseling but I also provide the edge of analysis and strategic planning which makes for a great foundation to approach any goal.
OTH: What’s next for you? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
AA: A short-term goal for me is to focus on my business having a successful year one of being established. My clients are amazing and I’m speaking on behalf of my business at my first global conference next week so I’m happy to have such an exciting launch. I’d love to incorporate what I teach into the education field. Most of my lessons learned happened outside of the classroom but I’d love to help close that gap between college and postgraduate life. Long term, I’d love to establish partnerships with companies I’d admire. I want to establish my seat at the table and continue to hold the values I do today.