Name: Alexandra Mayzler
Age: 28
Job Title and Description: Founder and Director Thinking Caps Tutoring, author “Tutor in a Book” (Adams 2010) and “SAT DeMystified” (McGraw Hill 2011)
College: New York University
Website: www.thinkingcapstutoring.com
Twitter Handle:@thinkingcapsusa
Her Campus:What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?
Alexandra Mayzler: As the founder of a small company, I wear many hats. I oversee day-to-day operations, manage relationships, and create curriculums for our students. Wherever my attention is needed is where I’m spending time. As the business has grown, I have started to delegate tasks to others and concentrate on thinking about the big picture.
HC:What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?
AM: I started Thinking Caps Tutoring while still in college. Before Thinking Caps I had a small swim lesson company in high school and college.
HC: What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you first started out that you know now?
AM: The one thing I wish I knew about entrepreneurship that I know now is that it is very difficult to build boundaries. When I started Thinking Caps, and even to this day, I find that there is always more work to do and when that work directly influences the success of something I’m personally building, it is difficult to stop and take a break. After seven years in business, I’m still learning how create reasonable boundaries.
HC: Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?
AM: There is no single person who has changed my professional life for the better. It is working with all of our students and seeing them grow that inspires me and motivates me to keep going.
HC:What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?
AM: “Whether your prevail or fail depends more on what you do to yourself than on what the world does to you.” – Jim Collins
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HC: What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?
AM: One mistake that I’ve made, and am still learning from, is stretching myself too thin. I continue to learn how to set boundaries and struggle with finding a balance between working as hard as possible and not working to the point of burning myself out.
HC: What is the best part of your job?
AM: The best part of the job is working with our students. Seeing students gain confidence in their academic pursuits is without a doubt what makes me wake up each morning.
HC: How important is it that college students engage in philanthropic work?
AM: I think that college is a good time to explore yourself and your world. Learning comes in different formats and in places outside the classroom. Whether through philanthropy, scholarship, or other experience, it is important to learn first-hand about the world we live in and about existence outside our immediate circles. Of course, the exploration of the world and people in it should not stop after college!
HC: What do you look for when hiring someone? What qualities stand out?
AM: I have the opportunity to meet with dozens of people every year when hiring instructors for Thinking Caps. We always look for honest and passionate individuals and those who are looking to pass on their knowledge and passions to younger students. Of course, excellent communication skills, professionalism, and desire to work diligently are all a must.
HC: What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?
AM: Some of the best advice that I heard when starting Thinking Caps was to not be afraid to take the risk. As scary as starting a business is, if you have an idea, have the commitment, and have a plan then take the plunge. Set yourself realistic goals and expectations and see where it takes you!
Co-Founded by Natalie MacNeil and Scott Gerber, Y.E.C. Women is an initiative of the Young Entrepreneur Council (Y.E.C.), an invite-only nonprofit organization comprised of the country’s most promising young entrepreneurs. The Y.E.C promotes entrepreneurship as a solution to youth unemployment and underemployment and provides its members with access to tools, mentorship, and resources that support each stage of a business’s development and growth.