We recently connected with Alexandria Whitner and have shared our conversation below.

Alexandria, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

Both of my parents instilled in me the value of a strong work ethic. My grandma—Ma Ma, as we call her—was a teacher, and my mom followed in her footsteps, bringing her passion for shaping the next generation into the classroom every day. My dad worked for the City of Cleveland, always carrying his belief that you should give back to the city that made you who you are.

I grew up watching them both work tirelessly in careers that weren’t about personal gain but about service, about something bigger than themselves. Their dedication shaped me in ways I didn’t even realize at the time. Some of my favorite moments were sitting with my mom as she graded papers, her letting me help, explaining why certain answers were wrong, and teaching me the grading scale. What started as bonding time slowly turned into my own love for education, fueling a curiosity that still drives me today.

When I was eight, my dad passed away, so most of my memories with him are from those early years. But what stuck with me were the awards and plaques from The City of Cleveland that filled our office room. I would stare at them, inspired, wanting to build my own collection of achievements. And then there was his love for golf—he had almost as many Tiger Woods photos as he did personal accolades. That’s when my fascination with sports began. It became more than just a game; it was a way to always keep a piece of him with me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and I’ve always known there was more out there. Growing up, I was obsessed with pop culture and entertainment, but I didn’t realize how deep it ran until I started watching movies with my mom. She would get so into them—tears in her eyes during rom-coms, fully locked in during Halloween (her favorite). At first, I didn’t get it, but joke’s on me because now I’m the one crying, laughing too hard, and just feeling something when I watch great content.

That obsession turned into action when, at eight years old, I watched High School Musical, then immediately searched for behind-the-scenes footage. I was hooked. Then came The Great Debaters, which made me realize storytelling isn’t just about actors—it’s about the script, the set, the direction, all of it.

I went to Howard University, majoring in Business Management because, at the end of the day, everything is a business. That’s where I discovered EICOP’s HBCU IN LA program, which introduced me to the world of talent agencies. I started at ICM Partners in 2018—mailroom, floating desks (even got fired off one, lol), and eventually working for two TV Lit agents. It was a grind, but I learned so much about myself. I considered the agent path, but deep down, I knew I wanted to be more creative.

That feeling of awe I had as a kid came rushing back when I started watching The Shop by UNINTERRUPTED. Seeing the biggest names have raw, unfiltered conversations was so dope to me. When I realized the company behind it—SpringHill—was founded by Ohio guys with values I connected with, I had to be there. I cold-emailed Ray Hogan (who was assisting the Chief Content Officer at the time), got drinks with him, pitched myself, and stayed in touch for two years. I networked relentlessly, and in 2020, I finally landed at SpringHill as Jamal Henderson’s assistant.

From there, it was—Studio Coordinator, then Associate Creative Executive under Lezlie Wills, working on scripted projects like Churchy S2 for BET+. After our merger with Fulwell73, I transitioned into a current executive role in unscripted. It’s fresh, but I’m excited to build a new skill set, developing content that blends entertainment with purpose.

Betting on myself has been the best decision I’ve ever made. I turned down a full-time offer from USA Today to take a chance on the HBCU IN LA internship program—and that leap set everything in motion.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the idea that you move to Hollywood, land the dream job, and—BOOM—life is perfect. I was dreaming about what it would be like, and don’t get me wrong, I’m still living my dreams… just not in the way I originally pictured.

Working at ICM Partners was a wake-up call. I knew a little about agency culture, but being in it was different. By week two, I wanted to quit. My friend Phillip Wells still tells the story of finding me stressed on the elevator and talking me off the ledge. Adjusting from the best HBCU in the world to agency life was humbling, to say the least. I moved to LA from DC with more curiosity than cash—crashed on my best friend’s couch, rented a room near LAX, and eventually got my own studio in Hollywood (but that’s a story for another day). Thank God for Growth lol!

Every day, I had to remind myself it would all pay off. And honestly, what kept me going was my own inspiration—I was determined to work at SpringHill because it just felt right. I also felt like it was the perfect marriage of my interest—Entertainment and Sports. The idea of working alongside people from my hometown (Hometown adjacent lol), with shared values, pushed me forward. And now, I think about how incredible it would be to one day do the same for a young girl watching me—giving her hope that she can make it too.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Working on so much athletic content lately has completely shifted my mindset. I’ve been diving deep into motivational speeches and TED Talks from top trainers, and recently, I came across Stop Bullshitting Yourself by Drew Hanlen. The man knows how to bring out the best in people—just look at his roster. 🔥On the entertainment side, Pete Chatmon’s podcast Let’s Shoot is a must-listen for anyone looking to level up in the industry. Whether you’re a director, actor, crew member, or just curious about the process, there’s an insightful convo with someone in every corner of the business. It’s a reminder that you can never stop learning. And let’s be real—unwinding is just as important as grinding. For that, Bobby Nsenga’s Weekend Getaway playlist hits every time. He’s got a whole catalog of fire playlists, whether you’re locking in to work or just vibing out. Highly recommend. 🙌🏾

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ali.whitner
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandria-whitner-224598ba/
• Twitter: https://x.com/Alexandria__W
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@alexandriawhitner7458/featured

Image Credits

Uninterrupted Film Festival (Photo 3 and 2); CHURCHY S1 Premiere (Photo 1); FANTASY FOOTBALL Premiere (Photo 4 and Photo 5); KLUTCH Sports Group All Star Weekend Party (Photo 6)