From Intern to Team Lead — Meet Alexandra Polentz
“I am inspired by women in business. I am a twenty-two year old female in an industry dominated by men. I love to see women in our business who have already accomplished what I am striving for.” -Alexandra Polentz
Here at Buckeye Better Business Consulting, we know that our value rests with our team, which is why during this most trying year, we have dedicated ourselves to our team. We’ve spent the past months physically apart, but mentally together. We have taken this time to reconnect, train, learn, and rediscover our ‘why.’ One of our Leaders, Alexandra Polentz, has been with us through it all, ever since she joined our Buckeye BBC team in May of 2019. Polentz has proven to be a leader in every sense of the word, pushing herself farther than she thought possible, and encouraging her team members to do the same.
Alexandra Polentz was born and raised in Grove City, Ohio. All her life, she saw business as the path. “I never considered entrepreneurship specifically,” says Polentz, “I always knew I would end up in business, though. I studied Human Resources in college before switching to Marketing in my junior year. While I was finishing my degree, I saw myself exploring PR and brand management. This career has allowed me to dabble in all of the above.” Before college, the competitive drive was still there. A natural athlete, Alexandra Polentz has spent her entire life training, growing, and achieving. “I grew up playing volleyball and softball,” says Polentz, “I went on to row crew for Ohio State during my sophomore year of college as a walk-on. I knew that in order to earn a spot on the field, on the court, or on the boat, then I had to earn it. I knew I had to show up and show off every day. I had to make myself stand out, so I put the work in each day, and I’m doing the same thing in my career. I make that decision every morning.”
Each new team member that walks through the Buckeye BBC doors adds a new facet to the fabric of our culture. What does Alexandra Polentz bring? We’ll let her tell you. “I bring a lot of energy to the team,” says Polentz, “I am one of the youngest in the bunch, with a ton of drive and ambition. I know what I want and have already decided that nothing will get in my way. I’m really passionate about growth, both personal and professional. I don’t want to be stagnant. I want to continue to develop my skills, my mindset, and my experience.”
How did Alexandra make her way here? What was step one? Where can future leaders begin? For Polentz, her career began with an internship. “I originally just needed an internship, and for a while that’s all I was here, the intern,” says Polentz, “Here for the summer and never to be seen again. However, during my three-month internship, I saw the opportunity in front of me. I was able to attend our National Conference as an intern, and I really saw what this business is about. I’m now here full time, growing each day, and working towards my overall goal of running my own business.”
Now is a scary time to be a young entrepreneur in any industry, especially one that relies on human connection. Internally, Alexandra Polentz has never lost the positive glow that she carries through her work. She has seen adversity in the face of our team and kept pushing. “During the pandemic, I was taken care of the entire time,” says Polentz, “I was never laid off or furloughed, and for that I am incredibly grateful. The business has been booming since lockdown was lifted and I am super excited to share this opportunity with whoever walks through our door. I am looking forward to the growth that lies ahead.”
In the next five years, Alexandra Polentz isn’t hoping for anything; she’s intending on it. Her goals are non-negotiable and her drive is unbreakable.
“In business, I love that the opportunity is mine,” says Polentz, “there is no line to wait in for a promotion. There is no seniority. I love that it is purely based on work ethic. I am a twenty-two year old, debt-free college grad striving to own my own business by the end of this year. My goal to be a business owner fuels my fire. All the people that say I can’t do it push me even harder. I strive to live life looking through the windshield, rather than the rear view mirror. What’s in the past is in the past and you’ll wreck the car if you try to look through the rear view.”
Alexandra Polentz
