Alexandra Rivas Smith

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT ALEXANDRA RIVAS SMITH

As a first-generation American and the child of exiled Cubans, I learned two things firsthand that have helped shape my career: The first is the importance of education as both an anchoring and transformative tool; the second is the ability to rewrite your story for success even amidst change. In other words, I’m a natural marketer, passionate about telling the story of products and services—and people—I believe in, to those who will benefit from it. I’m also a dedicated advocate for children and education. Being bicultural and a native Spanish speaker allows me to serve with empathy and efficacy, especially within the Hispanic and immigrant communities.This has played out in a career that spans teaching, sales, product management, customer success, and marketing in education and textbook publishing, serving as an executive sponsor and mentor for the Cristo Rey Work Study Program, and standing for some of our most vulnerable children as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate).To all of these roles, I bring inventiveness, a vibrant work ethic, and a passion for empowering others to thrive in dignity and equity.And this gets results. As SVP of Marketing I led a team of early adopters of cutting-edge marketing technology. This was no small feat, where everything was print-based when I started. Under my leadership, the department was digitized; when COVID hit we were already primed to communicate our message and marketing on fully integrated digital platforms. The teams I build produce consistently high-level results in the ever-changing world of marketing and branding. I believe that you get what you grow, so I strike a balance between working alongside team members when there is something new or challenging, and facilitating their learning so they can perform with confidence and excellence.The projects I chair are accomplished on time, on budget, and with results that exceed expectation. Prime examples include my administration of our company’s major rebranding effort in concert with a top NYC advertising agency, as well as my leadership of the selection and complete build out of a new site for our offices. Both projects involved managing budgets, timelines, third-party agencies, and internal and external stakeholders to ensure consensus and optimal results.I’m on LinkedIn to continue to network and pursue opportunities to leverage my skills in executive leadership, and values-based drive for excellence in marketing and education, branding, and communication. Message me here to start a conversation!