Her Story
About Alexandra
I started my career in mining in Chile and came to the U.S. through that industry, working in corporate for my entire career until 2023. I worked in Germany and Arizona before spending 9 years as a consultant with a consulting company in California. In November 2023, I decided to launch my own HR consulting firm, AMV Business Solutions. In December, I became interested in HR products with artificial intelligence, and after attending a Stanford event where I was encouraged to pursue startup certification, I launched HR Samurai - an AI-powered HR assistant for small to medium-sized companies that can't afford or don't need a full-time HR person. The tool helps them navigate the complexities of California and New York regulations. After seeing the recruiting challenges in today's employer market, where companies receive 200 to 300 resumes per posting, I partnered with a business colleague and in February launched Leap AI, a platform that uses artificial intelligence to rank applicants, create job descriptions, and provide behavioral interview questions. My days are spent talking to CEOs and business owners, helping them solve employee issues and navigate conflict resolution, while my evenings are dedicated to connecting with my international technology team and analyzing client feedback. I also serve as chair of the Contra Costa Employer Advisory Council, providing free resources and trainings for micro-businesses, and I'm on the board of the National Association of Women Business Owners, where I help motivate women and the next generation to build their own companies.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Alexandra
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my family. My grandpa was an entrepreneur with a shoe company, my dad had a car dealership, and my mom was a serial entrepreneur with multiple small businesses. Even though I decided to go into corporate thinking it wasn't for me, every time I connected with people in corporate, I felt like I could do this. Every story of my clients is my family's story - how we are wired with our business, how our vacations sometimes become conferences in other countries, or while our family is on the beach, we are searching for new opportunities in different places. That mindset of continuing and progressing is a passion for me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I give, especially to next generation high schoolers and girls, is this: before you get invested into a career, go and search what that career actually looks like, because there's a big difference and gap between college and reality that I haven't seen met yet. Whatever career you decide to follow, go and find out if that career is really for me, because that's what your passion is going to be driven by, that's what your motivation is going to be. And then practice perseverance - you're going to get a thousand no's before you get acceptance of the call that you want, but you keep pursuing what you really want, because one day you will be on the top and people will be asking you for advice.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the biggest challenges in the U.S. currently are the economy - high prices of gasoline, operational costs going up, and not being able to pass those yearly contract increases because you're already done. That has been the biggest challenge. But at the same time, it's about looking at opportunities and different streams of revenue, trying new things. I think that's key - to keep being creative in the way that you are building your company.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty is the most important value to me - not the tough honesty, but the honesty that will help someone understand their own company, their employees, and their work. What people say to someone can motivate, but it can also break someone. That's the biggest thing for me.
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