Alexandria Walker

I attribute my success to a strong foundation of faith, integrity, and a deep commitment to serving others, which has guided every step of my journey. My experiences in philanthropy—fundraising, serving on boards, supporting organizations, and connecting communities to resources—have shaped my purpose and strengthened my ability to lead with impact. I’ve also learned the importance of leaning on mentorship and community, while continuously investing in myself and using my gifts to create meaningful change.

I did not have a mentor coming up. I was raised by a single-parent mother and I'm a first-generation graduate, and I didn't have a mentor coming up, and it wasn't until in recent years that I've actually had mentors. My mom has been a really big supporter and driver in that. Over the years, I've met some incredible women. One woman named Monica Thorns, she's so encouraging and such a great connector, and she's always pouring back into me when I'm having those moments of doubt and fear. I have local businesses that supported me and showed up for me when I was running as a queen because we have to raise different fundraising dollars, and they all showed up for me. So, like, its so many names to list, maybe about 5 names to list, but it's a combination of individuals and businesses and just… For the first time, it felt like, you know, community. I'm so used to being the one to pour back out that really rarely is it… it's hard for me to say, hey, I need help, right? I need assistance with something. And I learned in this last several years that it's okay to know your community, and they really did show up for me.

First and foremost, they matter. Their voices matter, what they have to give matters. We live in such a world where everyone is doing something, and it's such a big world that we feel like we have nothing to contribute because it's already being done. But you see multiple burger places, multiple popcorn shops, different types of businesses that exist not because they were scared or struck in fear, but because they believed in what they had to offer. Our young girls really are the future. They are the future of pioneering, whether that's in education, whether that's in aerospace, whether that's in nonprofit. They have such a powerful voice and a powerful light that needs to be shed. So I would first tell them, do not be afraid to walk into those opportunities or rooms that will help refine their gifts and help them to find their voice. Do it scared. Don't let voices like 'I don't have enough, I'm not enough' scare you, because those voices must flee because you are, and I really believe that. When you truly walk in your gift, doors open for you, make spaces for you. Be confident in who you are and what you have to give, because everyone can benefit and learn from one another, and also be true to themselves. I know we're living in a very social media crazed world where everybody wants to be an influencer, but I would question, when it comes to wanting to be an influence, first think about the kind of person you want to become and walk truthfully in that. Don't allow for other people to influence you in something that you're not, or something that you do not want to do. Focus on using your light to make a difference in the world without it being contaminated or driven by fear of not being enough.

One of the biggest opportunities in my field is bridging gaps in philanthropic participation, especially by empowering faith-based, Black, and brown communities to be active contributors to giving and impact. At the same time, there is a growing opportunity to normalize sober wellness by expanding access to zero-proof alternatives and creating inclusive, alcohol-free spaces in everyday environments.

Kindness. I have a really big heart, and I believe it's stewardship because of my principles in Christ. I love the Lord, and for me, it allows me to show kindness, walk in integrity, help other people. Kindness should be first, because you really never know what someone else is going through, and it's just the humility in me. I exist to help other people. I exist to showcase God's love to mankind through the works that He has given me to do, which I am so blessed for that. Second thing is integrity. I really strive to be a woman of my word, because I value other people who, if they tell me something, they fall through on it. And it also ties into my work ethic, which is third. Having a strong work ethic is so important. It drives everything within me, and it also allows us as individuals to not just work, but to work in excellence. You know, be really passionate and vigilant about what we are building and how we are serving others, and that ties into that, too. Other values for me is leadership. I love leadership. It gives me the opportunity to be a transformative leader and pouring back into individuals and helping them to achieve their dreams. Philanthropy is a really important value to me, because again, philanthropy makes the world go round. When you are investing into your communities, you are investing into the future, and that is so important for me. Entrepreneurship and being innovative is of value to me because I love creating. I love taking what I see in my mind and putting it out on paper, putting it out on something. Those would be my really big ones, and just humility.