斯蒂芬妮·亚历山大，98年，12年
斯蒂芬妮·亚历山大，98年，12年
首席执行官 & 创始人/联合创始人:BOOST & govmates
I am the founder and CEO of a company dedicated to helping business owners grow their government contracting businesses called BOOST. I am the co-founder of an online technology scouting tool, govmates, that finds innovative new companies who can help solve the government's problems. 我还好, 不只是稍微)刻薄, 总是好奇的, evolving human that appreciates a great laugh, 一本好书和户外时光, 远离我的笔记本电脑. I grew up in the Hampton Roads area and moved to the DC metro region upon graduating Tech with a Finance degree. I attended Virginia Tech's Executive MBA program, graduating in 2012 and I serve on the Virginia Tech MBA Board of Advisors.
Where you've been in your career and where you are going...
I utilized Virginia Tech's MBA program to kick-start my first company. The program was influential in my business plan and helped set the stage for success. Fast forward 6 years and I felt comfortable enough to start my second company with my co-founder. I have plans for at least two more in my future, leveraging my lessons learned in entrepreneurship to scale quickly.
The work project/initiative you're most excited about...
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE watching people grow their companies. I was put on this earth to help people grow and scale organizations. I'm passionate about sharing lessons learned and helping folks navigate the ups and downs of their businesses.
How would you capture the essence of your work in a 新闻paper headline...
Growing and scaling companies for a better tomorrow while solving the hard problems.
How Virginia Tech equipped me for the 'real world'...
I used every opportunity in my Executive MBA program to plan for the launch of my first business. 每个小组项目, 每一个纸, every assignment was about my real life career and helped set the stage for my success.
A key habit, practice, or skill, that's worth the effort...
了解自己. If you are a morning person, use that time for the big thinking that you need to do. Schedule time on your calendar to go off-line and think about the hard things, 一起讨论吧, 解决问题. The same holds true if you are a nightowl. Use your personal body rhythm to your advantage and recognize that is the most valuable time of the day. Don't let meetings overtake your most creative time.
Best part of being a Virginia Tech alum...
Hokies generally want to help each other. We connect on our common bonds and want to help others who came before and those that came after us.
Biggest misconception about my job or industry...
Government contracting is always boring or behind the commercial industry by decades. 有时候，这感觉是真的. But there are innovative new things popping up all the time to help support the war fighter or to tackle hard issues such as education, 环境, 等.
这是我最热衷的事业...
Helping others grow and scale their companies. I believe if you can build companies that matter, it filters down to employees that matter. From there its building a workforce that cares about its mission.
The most formative experience I've had...
Studying abroad was probably one of the most eye-opening opportunities that I've had the privilege of doing. Prior to my semester abroad, I had no idea that a world existed beyond the US. Being exposed to different cultures, different practices, different languages has influenced my life.
The most courageous thing I've done...
Started my own company with zero clients, zero employees and zero outside capital.
如果我有超能力，那就是...
Transporting to the time and location of my choosing
My no-fail, go-for-it motivational song...
Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J
我读的最后一本书...
In Defense of Witches By Mona Chollet
这是我遗愿清单上的第一项...
所有的旅行，所有的时间!
Something very few people know about me...
I'm a certified Kansas City BBQ judge (from a million years ago)