Membership: Member Interviews
Victor Alexander
(Interview continued from e-mail newsletter.)
| Q. |
What have you done since HBS? |
| A. |
I’m working as an associate at KeyBanc Capital
Markets. It’s the same job as prior to business school,
just the next level up, so I now have analysts who can
help me do the work. I’m working on a lot of great
transactions, and am happy to be back working with the
same people. I probably work about 70 hours / week, which
is a healthy number of hours, since my friends in New York
are working a lot more. Key is a great place—the people
are smart, I learn a lot from them, and in particular they
care about your career and your development and your
family—all that happy stuff that makes a difference. In
my free time, I have a lot of fun. I bought a townhouse in
Cleveland Heights and am dabbling in cooking a bit now—I
really enjoy grilling. My roommate, Madison Mauze, an
employee at Whole Health, is also from the HBS Class of
2006 and so we cook together, and socialize,. I also like
golf, travel, and wine—all the expensive habits. I also
love college football and am headed out to see the
Buckeyes in the National Championship game on Jan 8th. |
| Q. |
Give me a three point plan for attracting more
young professionals to NEO and keeping them here? |
| A. |
Wow—that’s a tough one. I think the key is we need
to get the right businesses here and those businesses need
to actively want to bring young people on board. Secondly,
anything the area can do to create a more vibrant downtown
and lakefront area is well worth it—we should use our
lake like Chicago uses theirs. And lastly, we need to cut
taxes—I say that especially as a Cleveland Heights
resident. Those things together could help attract more
young people. |
| Q. |
Which executive or leader in corporate America do
you most admire? |
| A. |
Warren Buffett. When I was at HBS, about 40 of us went
to Omaha to spend the day with Warren Buffett. I admire
him because he knows who he is and more importantly who he
isn’t, and he stays within his competencies. He doesn’t
follow the crowd: he lives in Omaha, has his own
convictions and believes in them, and holds out a high
moral and ethical compass. I also admire my father
(FirstEnergy CEO, Anthony Alexander, PMD 1986) for what
he’s done. He started at FirstEnergy in 1972, as an
accountant, and came into his current leadership role
there at a time of real turmoil for company on a lot of
levels. He has worked hard to get the company through the
tough times and growing again. He is also a mentor for me,
because he is a smart, well reasoned individual and serves
as a good sounding board and counsel. He has always been
there for me at every step and he will continue to do so. |
| Q. |
What does the HBS Club of NEO do well? What could
it do better? |
| A. |
I am too new to say what the
club could do better. I think activities and events it
holds are interesting for the most part. The club does a
good job of programming and creating a nice way for people
to stay in touch with one another. |
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