We were lucky to catch up with Alex Simmons recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Alex, thank you so much for joining us today. There are so many topics we could discuss, but perhaps one of the most relevant is empathy because it’s at the core of great leadership and so we’d love to hear about how you developed your empathy?
Empathy has been rooted in my family since I was a child. My parents were two people who have always served their families and communities. My mother became a CNA after working for most of her life in plants. I watched her bathe and feed individuals who could not do it themselves. I also watched her provide connection and love to people who may not have had either. Her care didn’t just extend to her patients, but also her family. She cared for her mother who had multiple sclerosis and her sister who was ailed with HIV. In a time where HIV was misunderstood and feared, she cared for her sister without judgement. My father also had a heart for service. He used sports as a way to be a father figure and mentor to young people who lacked a positive leader in their lives. He poured his time and effort into young people to expose them to leadership and opportunities, with the goal of having an impact on future generations. While there were times I was frustrated with the amount of time they were giving, I quickly grew to realize that life was bigger than me.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My early life was almost always about my relationship with god, my family, and sports. Most of my time was focused on being an athlete, however, I did recognize at a young age that I had a level of self-determination and independence. I was goal oriented, good in the classroom, and knew from an early age what I wanted to accomplish.
As I grew older I began to find myself through adversity. I became a really good athlete, but I started to lose focus. The adversity led me to find that life was bigger than sports and partying. When I was 15 years old, I was selected as Scholar into the Clemson Emerging Scholars Program. In that opportunity I found new mentors and built lifelong connections. My vision quickly began to focus, I learned to prioritize my education and other learning opportunities. The Emerging Scholars program allowed me to see leaders in education that looked like me. It felt like this was the first time seeing the bigger picture on how to achieve the successes that I wanted to accomplish.
My biggest priority now is community enhancement and entrepreneurship. I want to create opportunities for the community, and increase access to education and professional opportunities for young people. All of my work is focused on having a larger impact on the future of Greenville, the Upstate, and the world. I want my story to be an example for young people, to see that there are an abundance of possibilities if you work hard and embrace challenge.
Outside of the roles mention I am a business owner of Wellness Administration. Which provides Virtual administration and consultations to private practice therapist. I am Master Leader in training for The Leadership Challenge of the Wiley institute where I provide trainings and coaching to organization leadership personnel. I am also a Certified Diversity Professional through The Institute for Diversity Certification where I can provide training, consultation and coaching to businesses on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts. I currently give back with my leadership experience and skills by sitting as a board member of local nonprofits Upstate Fatherhood Coalition and Infinite Possibilities.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Spirituality, composure, and leadership have shaped me into the person I am today. My faith has guided me to do the work that I do. I have always believed that I was put here for a larger purpose, because of that leaning on my faith is often the first thing I do when I wake up.
Composure has also been a very important part of my professional and personal life. I have always found that the ability to overcome adversity and remain steadfast in service is vital to life. Like many people challenges have been a large part of my life, but leaning on my composure has allowed me to arise to occasions as they are presented. In my line of work, composure is explicitly important. Often times, I am confronted with people who may be at the worst part of their lives. I am reminded that it is important to remain an ally in their process and provide the support they need.
One of my largest passions is leadership. Having an impact on the future generation of leaders in the upstate and beyond has become a large part of my work. I have always believed that leadership is my calling and something that I have a gift for. In learning more about leadership, I have grown to spurn the traditional approach and have started to value different leadership styles to promote future leaders.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
Over the last several months I have prioritized practicing intentional self-happiness. We are taught to rely on external happiness from an early age, whether it is grades or making your parents happy. It also felt like I had been focused on pleasing the people around me and I lost a sense of what made me happy. I felt accomplished but I also began to feel a sense of emptiness. The emptiness led me to soul search, and attempt to find what made me feel whole. I began to focus on several things; my relationship with my family and god, trying to overcome fears, and getting out of my comfort zone. Through therapy, travel, and skydiving I began to find that happiness again. Through these experiences I was reminded that happiness isn’t about successes or failures, but in putting in the work to improve yourself. I have also began doing affirmations with my son, to work to identify our true values.
Outside of the self work my most rewarding over this year is the refuel station of Young Brothers Academy. Being apart of Leadership team as Project Renew coordinator has been fulfilling to my purpose. YBA is mentoring program for young males middle through high school ages, our goal is to aid in the mental, physical, spiritual development of our scholars so they may become men of value for themselves, their families, and the communities they will serve. As the PRC I’m able to break down the stigma in our community around mental health concerns and provide education resources on the topic, along with us offering to fund sessions for our scholars. Our leadership team is a true brotherhood I needed at this point in my life and could not be more appreciative of each of the guys!
Contact Info:
- Website: wellnessconsulting.me
- Instagram: wa_sims
- Linkedin: Alex Simmons
Image Credits
Joshua Gaffney Justin Irick
