We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alexis Piotrowski a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alexis , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I had been in high-level management in the service industry for quite some time. Anyone who has ever been in this industry knows it’s high stress, long hours and very little time off. The industry is your life and the bars are you work in are your home. At this point I was Director of Operations for a brewery as well as nightclub in San Diego. The dust of the openings and closures due to the pandemic had settled, things were getting back to normal and I could finally take a much needed break. In 2022 I had decided to take myself on a solo-vacation to Singapore. Traveling alone is great because you have a lot of time to reflect and and think about your life. Though I was able to travel to Singapore the country itself was still enforcing many covid precautions. It was like having the city to myself, people still stayed 6 ft away but the local vendors were more than happy to talk. It was here that I began to form the idea for what is now my business. I journaled every day about the life I wanted, the skills I have, the things about my current and past positions that I loved the most. The pandemic had changed the way we view work and where it needed to be done. It also changed how education and trainings could be conducted. With this space, time, solitude and the inspiration one gets from travel I started to see a new path unfolding. A path taking one of my favorite aspects, empowering my leadership teams, to new levels. With Orbit Leadership I get to change people’s view from a singular “I” to “we” as the team. I get to train and support new leadership on their journey. I get to be creative in my approach while watching the confidence bloom in the people I train. The thing about leadership and management training is that it’s usually one or the other, and either one can be quite expensive. You’re often at some big weekend conference getting jazzed up but when the conference is over the action plan is minimal and enthusiasm wanes. My program is 12-weeks long, taught virtual-live and in small group settings so there is time for dialogue. People need to understand and retain the information before they can implement it.
Every time I log on to teach people willing and eager to learn, people wanting to deepen their skillset, I get excited! The skills and tools they acquire in these classes and workshops are skills they can use in every aspect of their lives.

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?

When I was 16 years old I got my first job in the service industry. I loved the culture, the team and the environment. This is an industry unique to itself and one that I’ve been in ever since. I grew into various positions of management such as Bar Manager, General Manager, Managing Partner and Director of Operations. I think my superpower is people. I know how to unite and drive a team to a common goal. I truly enjoy customer service and interaction. I take great efforts to ensure a culture of accountability, respect and consistency. I value to the people who work for me and the customers who choose to pay patronage at the establishments I’ve managed. I believe the respect I hold for people, their time and their earnings is something that has set me a part over the years.
When it came to launching my own business, Management and Leadership Training, I was excited to combine my decades worth of first hand experience into curriculum that my students can put into practical action. I love small business as well as empowering people so the transition into this business is a perfect fit.

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

Earlier on in my management career I was promoted to General Manager, overseeing two locations and brands, at the same time. This was back in Austin Texas. The bar I was currently running is and was an iconic Austin staple, The Jackalope. The second bar that I was to take on was its sister bar, Chupacabra Cantina. Though both of these bars were literally next door to each other, they felt like they were wolrds apart. The staff at each bar was completely different, the vibe, menu and culture were also polar opposites. The lesson I had to unlearn was that I could not treat one like the other. Just because certain things worked at The Jackalope, including my style of management, did not mean it would work next door. The thing was The Jackalope held a certain status in town, it was beloved. People wanted to work there and we had no shortage of talent applying on a regular basis. Chupacabra was still in development and didn’t have much of an identity. Hiring qualified people to work somewhere with very inconsistent business was very challenging. Honestly I understand, who wants to work somewhere where the money can fluctuate so greatly. Aside from that there was still the matter of creating a new culture amongst the staff, one with higher accountability and a higher focus on teamwork.
I had to rebuild from the ground up, gather a whole new team and take a look at myself in the process. I was able to see that I needed to adapt as well. I would say that toggling between brands, employees and learning their “why” really helped me develop my emotional intelligence. and for that I am grateful.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

My rule is pretty simple, I do what I say and I say what I do. I am consistent, fair and honest. I’ve never needed to lie to get a position, make a sale or make a friend. I value my relationships and that is clear to pretty much anyone who does business with me. Reputations are built on people who are willing to vouch for you as much as you needing as needing to be able to live up to your word.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.orbitleadership.com/
• Instagram: orbit_leadership
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-piotrowski/