In today’s feature of our Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Spotlight, we're thrilled to introduce Alex Cheney, the visionary behind A Little Bit Alex, a company that is reshaping how businesses think about their early-stage hiring processes. Join us as we explore the journey of this recruitment "unicorn" who is redefining industry norms and empowering business leaders to build more inclusive teams.
Hi, Alex! Thanks for joining us today. Tell us about your business. Who do you serve, how do you serve them, and what's the impact that your business and work makes?
A Little Bit Alex helps organizations with all of their recruiting needs and does it through the lens of inclusion. While my strategies are targeted toward founders/CEOs of small/startup organizations, the principles I impart can be used in a business of any size. Many leaders of startup organizations falsely believe that it can be "too early" to talk about diversity and inclusion. A candidate's first window into the culture of an organization is through the recruiting process, and I help organizations set up those processes to ensure that a strong culture and sense of belonging are showcased from the get-go. I also assist companies with the direct hiring of their senior/niche roles.
Tell us about the moment you finally felt like you went from wantrepreneur to entrepreneur.
I'm still pretty new to the whole idea of being an entrepreneur, as I launched this business in May 2023. I have been someone who thrives in structure and schedules, and once my world became more fluid, I realized that a significant shift had been made. What I hadn't realized was how many of my thoughts and ideas I kept to myself for fear of being ridiculed or chastised by leaders in my former companies. While I knew that becoming an entrepreneur would give me more freedom, I was not prepared for the level of empowerment it gave me.
Describe the moment or period in your life/career that motivated you to make the entrepreneurial leap.
I was impacted by two separate layoffs in June 2022 and March 2023. While the former happened at a time when recruiters were still highly sought, the latter happened when markets really came to a halt. I spent March and April 2023 frantically looking for a new role with barely any responses. The frustration was mounting and starting to make me doubt my own skills as a recruiter. My partner had been suggesting that I start my own business, but I didn't think I was ready. If (and it was a big IF) I was going to make that move, I didn't want to be just another run-of-the-mill recruiter. I had had candidates and hiring managers alike tell me that I was a "recruiting unicorn", and I knew that any business I started would have to be different. My partner and I started throwing names around, but everything sounded too formal...too stuffy. One day, he (half-jokingly) said "A Little Bit Alex", and we both chuckled...but then I paused and said "Wait...is that it? Is that my business?" I checked to see if domains were available, and BOOM...I was launching a business. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and I just wish I'd thought to do it sooner.
Describe a tool, service, or software that has been a game-changer for your business. How does it contribute to your success?
I think one of the growing pains I had as a new business owner was the feeling that I needed to always be available. I'm one who espouses a strong work/life balance, and I was starting my own being compromised. While this may not seem like an earth-shattering revelation, when I started using Calendly to manage my calendar, it allowed me to pass that burden off to technology. Once I put in my parameters and buffers, I saw my work/life balance improve significantly.
We know that success is very often a non-linear path. Tell us about a failure, pivot point, or lesson that changed your course or direction and helped to get you where you are today.
HR and Recruiting is actually my second career. Before this switch, I had a twelve-year career as a professional entertainer. I (literally) sang and danced my way around the world. In 2010, I was a new transplant to Las Vegas and accidentally fell into an HR role while I was looking for something in Entertainment Management. I actually enjoyed my HR role and started to grow my career on that ladder. In 2012, an Entertainment Manager opportunity presented itself to me, and I swiftly took it, thinking that it was the path meant for me. Not only that, it was a nice increase in pay, title, and responsibility. As I took on this new role, I found myself missing Recruiting. After a year in that role, I realized that the path meant for me was actually the I'd previously been on. I eventually asked for a transfer back to my former Coordinator role in Recruiting, and while many people didn't understand why I'd purposefully demote myself, I knew that this was what was best for me. My career catapulted in ways I could not have imagined, and I am so grateful that I made that pivot. I'd never be sitting here as a business owner had I not done it.
What unconventional strategy did you employ that significantly impacted your business?
I think a lot of entrepreneurs/founders/leaders go into new situations with an attitude that they need to change the world as fast as possible. I have been in environments where a new leader has done just that, and I've watched how it can often alienate that leader from others in the organization. While perhaps not the most unconventional, I liked to take a strategy of meeting people where they are. I think that's very important in building rapport and trust. People are inherently resistant to change, so it's my job to make sure that my client understands I'm there to work with them in a partnership, not dictate what they should be doing. As someone who does their fair share of running, I can attest that "slow and steady wins the race".
What’s something you wish you knew sooner that you’d give as advice for aspiring or newer entrepreneurs?
You're never going to feel like you're mentally, physically, or financially ready. I was certainly in that boat, and had I not had the encouragement of my partner (who had also launched his own business), I don't think I would have given it a shot. There are so many entrepreneurs out there ready to give other new business owners advice. Tapping into your network and asking questions makes the leap feel a lot less scary.
Want to go deeper into Alex's work? Here are some links to find him:
- Visit A Little Bit Alex's Website: www.alittlebitalex.com
- Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: Alex Cheney 🦄🏳️🌈
- Follow A Little Bit Alex on LinkedIn