Alexandra Prodoehl

I live every day with immense gratitude for the strength and opportunities God has given me and the sacrifices my parents have made for my education. I can truly honestly say I wouldn't be where I am today without God and the support of my parents. When I need strength, I'm called to reflect on Philippians 4:13, which is, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. My parents have really shown me the value of perseverance, compassion, and hard work, inspiring me to keep going. I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunities I've had, which wouldn't be possible without the truly inspiring figures throughout my education as well. One of my professors, Dr. Stacey Neier-Beran from the Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University of Chicago, has been really particularly influential, both professionally and personally. Taking her Ignatian design thinking class my junior year was truly transformative. Not only was I able to work with a global nonprofit for women in the C-suite and gain real-world experience, but the course really laid the foundation for embracing life's “cannonball” moments.

Know your worth, and don’t be afraid to walk away if you’re not being valued. We as women are too often encouraged to sell ourselves short and accept the bare minimum. 

Creating an environment where we as women can empower, motivate, and inspire one another is crucial. Be the hype woman. Be the mentor your younger self needed for the next generation— because we need more women believing in their own potential and impact. And we need more women lifting one another up instead of fighting for seats at the table, talking behind each other’s backs, and undervaluing other women. 

The most powerful woman in the room isn’t the loudest— she’s the one supporting, empowering, and building up those around her. 

Take initiative and go after what you want. Be a go-getter, and don't be afraid to do it scared. That fear is exactly what's holding you back from your full potential. Choose to step out of your comfort zone and feel uncomfortable. This is where the real growth happens. I've had the privilege of being in rooms and having opportunities I never would have dreamed of, all because I took that leap. From pitching the idea of attending an international medical conference in Germany at 19, to coincidentally meeting a HarperCollins Children's Publishing Senior Director, all because I decided to take a solo day trip to the Amalfi Coast and started a conversation with the woman sitting next to me at a restaurant. These opportunities have shown just how much fear can either control you or build you. Do things alone, do them scared, do them in spite of the unknown. And don't let other people's opinions get in the way of starting the next chapter of your life. That kind of imprisonment is much too common for us as women. And everyone loves a good plot twist in books, so why not make it your life? If you need to pivot or change, do it, because the regret you'll have from not doing it will keep you stuck in that inevitable what-if questions loop, and ultimately that amazing new chapter waiting for you.

At the PR firm I currently work at, we're really shaping the change in healthcare communications, emphasizing the importance of intentional, patient-centered public relations, really grounded in real-world impact. There's a real opportunity for the healthcare communications industry to really be thoughtfully connecting with patient audiences instead of talking at them. This communication approach really prioritizes patient perspectives and builds lasting trust through transparency. By ensuring patients feel seen, heard, and understood, you're really building more than a following, you're cultivating a community. In the PR industry overall, authenticity is truly both a challenge and an opportunity. For a brand to truly connect with an audience, authentic communication should be at the center of its work, but the landscape can be so oversaturated with copy and paste strategies involving minimal personalization. Audiences are so digitally savvy and perceptive, so they know when a brand is not only not meaningfully engaging, but attempting to understand them. That's why authenticity is both really a challenging opportunity. And if done well, it can be a complete game changer for creating effective campaigns.

Resilience, benevolence, equanimity, sagaciousness, and sedulousness. I've learned that perceived failure isn't an ending, it's actually an opportunity. What we call failures in our lives can actually be the greatest opportunities for resilience, impact, and growth, making us more self-aware and intentional with our choices, time, and energy. Sometimes those failures are exactly what we need to bring us to a different kind of success, one forged by perseverance, courage, and determination. Persevering after failure is truly what refines and builds us, so I'll never be afraid to face a challenge head-on and choose to start again, and be kind, because you never know what silent battles others are fighting.