Many people use early January to reflect on the previous year and think about what they may wish to change in the new year. That could be a change in activities, in relationships, in employment, in attitudes, in exercise routines or any number of other aspects. Change is not always comfortable, and sometimes it involves risks. Perhaps that is why few people succeed in following through with New Year resolutions for longer than a month or two.
Alexandra (Walker-West) Crow is a 2006 Pentwater High School graduate who took a risk in changing employment eight years ago. It was a change that has brought her so much success that she was named to the 2024 “40 under 40” list of the Crain’s Grand Rapids Business Journal. This list calls attention to promising leaders under the age of 40 whom the community should hold in high regard and for whom the community should have high expectations.
Alex attended Pentwater schools K-12. She was unsure of what she wanted to do after high school, so she did not go right into college. She moved out of state and worked in Tennessee, where she took classes for one semester at Middle Tennessee State University. A year later she moved back to Michigan and earned an associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College. She recounts the story that changed her employment trajectory:
“About 10 years ago, I was managing a salon in Grand Rapids and was tasked with increasing our guest count. To achieve my goal, I decided to join the Forest Hills Business Association (FHBA) to build relationships with local professionals and get the salon’s name out there. A couple of months later, I filled a vacant position on the association board, leading me to become treasurer of the FHBA. The following fall, a fellow FHBA member shared that his employer, United Bank, was looking for a corporate receptionist, and he thought I’d be a great fit. Banking was never something I’d thought about, but I decided to throw my name in the hat in hopes of landing the job. Fast forward eight years and three positions later, I was promoted to second vice president, branch manager of the corporate office. It all played out serendipitously, and I love that about my career story..“
Crow wants to be the best possible role model for her 11-year-old daughter Marley. She, and her husband David, want to show their daughter the importance of hard work, to encourage her independence and to instill the value of giving back to the community. “I want her to look beyond our four walls to see how she can help others.” Crow’s example speaks loudly – she has volunteered for several years with Junior Achievement, she teaches financial literacy classes in schools and she volunteers with a non-profit called “Revive and Thrive,” a program that makes and delivers meals to people suffering a health crisis.
Professional growth and self-confidence feed each other. In a corporate environment where most executives have four-year degrees or more, it can be tempting for someone with only an associate degree to feel inadequate or insecure. “Confidence is built on how you look at yourself as an asset to the team or to your company.” Crow continued, “All I can control is doing the very best I can in my current position.” Each time Crow mastered the responsibilities of one position, she was challenged to tackle a new task. Selected to develop a training session for new employees that became a requirement, Crow showed her willingness to learn new things and demonstrated her work ethic. She was rewarded with being selected to create an advanced training session. Through these challenges she says, “I’ve grown exponentially, and I’ve surprised myself.”
Offering sage advice to Pentwater (and other) high school students, Crow shares from her experience:
• “Be the best you can be wherever you are and in whatever position you hold, whether you’re scooping ice cream at AJ’s or completing your first internship. For me, it was never about how fast I could reach the top; it was about ensuring I was performing at the top of my game in my current position before applying for the next.
• Continue to challenge yourself. If you’re not experiencing some professional discomfort, it’s safe to say you’re not experiencing growth. Ask for more responsibility if you’re feeling unchallenged, and I promise you, positive things will follow. For example, I challenged myself by offering assistance to other departments within the bank. This benefited others and broadened my knowledge in different areas, making me more of an asset.
• Learn about a local non-profit that tugs at your heartstrings and explore volunteer opportunities they may have. Not only will you feel more fulfilled, but these hours will make your college and employer applications shine.”
Alex is the daughter of Catherine Walker of Crystal Valley and the late Gary R. West.
