Her Story
About Mackenzie
Mackenzie Alexander serves as Southeast Region Coordinator at Forest Stewards Guild, where she leads regional forestry initiatives across the Southeast from West Virginia to Florida and Alabama. With approximately six years in forestry and ten years in the nonprofit sector, she brings hands-on experience in project management, workforce development, and community education on topics such as invasive species control and bird-friendly forestry practices. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in natural resources management and attributes her success to mentorships, including through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative youth delegate program. She currently serves as executive board chair of Forest Her North Carolina, supporting women in the forestry field, and values positivity, tenacity, and connecting with nature through activities like backpacking and canoeing.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mackenzie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to keeping my chin up and exuding positivity even in hard times. Tenacity and grit are so important in our field, especially as a young woman in a male-dominated industry. Without mentorships from professors and programs like SFI, I would not be where I am today.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Keep your chin up. The positivity that I try and exude at every turn is really what I think is a big spark. Keeping your head up even in those hard times, and remembering that tenacity and grit are so important.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Put yourself out there. Start where you think your passions are, and start volunteering to get a flavor of it. Say hello to people in the field, even if it's just to say hi and ask how they got into their field. Do the scary thing even if you're scared. Folks in roles we admire are actually people, so take that leap.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The field is male-dominated and I'm often one of the few women, sometimes the only woman, and fairly young. But it has come a long way in recent years with more rising women entering and powerhouse women blazing the way. There are opportunities through groups like Forest Her North Carolina.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Nature is in tune with my soul. I make sure to put myself and my family first, taking time for intimate personal connections that feed my soul. I'm grateful for my fiance's support and my support system. I love being outside in the woods, backpacking, canoeing.
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