Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis J. Crespo.
Hi Alexis J. , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been passionate about bringing people together, but my path wasn’t driven solely by career ambitions. A deeply personal experience changed the way I viewed community, leadership, and service, and ultimately led me to Youth Empowerment. Working alongside young people and families reminded me that prevention, mentorship, and meaningful relationships can change the trajectory of someone’s life long before a crisis occurs.
That experience also helped shape everything I do today. As Chief Program & Development Officer at Youth Empowerment, I help lead initiatives focused on youth development, workforce development, mentoring, and community partnerships. Through my consulting company, Collaborative Hive, I work with organizations to build stronger leaders, healthier workplace cultures, and more human-centered organizations. I also serve as Chair of the Philanthropy Collective at the University Club San Diego, where I have the privilege of connecting nonprofit and business leaders around shared community impact.
While those roles may seem different on the surface, they’re all rooted in the same belief: lasting change happens when people invest in one another. Whether I’m working with a student, facilitating a leadership workshop, or helping organizations collaborate more effectively, my goal is to leave people and communities stronger than I found them.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I don’t think meaningful careers ever are. One of my biggest challenges has been learning to lead before I felt completely ready. Throughout my career, I often found myself being the youngest person in the room, stepping into leadership roles where I had to earn credibility through preparation, consistency, and results rather than years of experience. That experience eventually inspired one of my keynote presentations, The Youngest in the Room, because I know so many emerging leaders struggle with the same feeling.
Another challenge has been learning that passion alone isn’t enough. Early on, I wanted to say yes to every opportunity because I genuinely wanted to help. Over time, I realized that real impact comes from focus. That’s been one of the biggest lessons behind the evolution of Collaborative Hive. Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, I’ve intentionally narrowed my work to leadership development, communication, and helping organizations remain human while adapting to the future of work.
Like many leaders, I’ve also learned that leadership isn’t just about strategy or vision—it’s about navigating difficult conversations, differing perspectives, and organizational change. Those experiences haven’t always been easy, but they’ve made me a better listener, a more thoughtful leader, and someone who understands that healthy organizations are built through trust, collaboration, and a willingness to keep learning.
Looking back, I’m grateful for those challenges because they’ve shaped not only how I lead, but also how I serve others. They’ve reinforced my belief that growth rarely happens when everything goes according to plan.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I currently serve as the Chief Program & Development Officer at Youth Empowerment, where I oversee organizational development, strategic growth, and many of the initiatives that move our mission forward. My role spans fundraising and grant strategy, program development, staff training and leadership development, strategic partnerships, organizational planning, and cross-functional leadership. I write and manage many of our grant proposals, help design and strengthen programs, support organizational initiatives, and work alongside our leadership team to ensure we’re building an organization that creates lasting impact for the young people and families we serve.
Beyond my work at Youth Empowerment, I’m the founder of Collaborative Hive, a leadership development and organizational consulting company. Through speaking engagements, workshops, and consulting, I help organizations strengthen leadership, improve communication, navigate conflict, and build workplace cultures that remain human while adapting to the future of work. My work focuses on developing leaders, fostering intergenerational collaboration, and helping organizations build cultures where people and purpose thrive together.
I also have the privilege of serving as Chair of the Philanthropy Collective at the University Club San Diego. Alongside an incredible committee of nonprofit and community leaders, we create educational workshops, networking events, and opportunities that connect nonprofit professionals with funders, business leaders, and strategic partners. Our goal is to ensure our nonprofit members receive meaningful value through practical learning, authentic relationships, and access to the resources they need to strengthen their organizations. One of the visions I’m most passionate about is helping establish the University Club as the premier hub for nonprofit collaboration in Southern California—a place where nonprofit leaders, philanthropists, corporate partners, and community changemakers come together to share ideas, build relationships, and create greater impact than any one organization could accomplish alone.
While these roles may look different on paper, they’re all connected by the same purpose: building stronger leaders, stronger organizations, and stronger communities through collaboration. Whether I’m writing a grant proposal, training staff, facilitating a leadership workshop, developing partnerships, or bringing community leaders together, my work is centered on creating environments where people feel connected, supported, and empowered to make a difference.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a single title or accomplishment—it’s earning the trust to help people solve problems together. I believe the most meaningful change happens when people are willing to collaborate across organizations, sectors, and generations. If there’s one thing I’d like to be known for, it’s helping people communicate more effectively, lead with purpose, and build stronger communities by investing in one another.
Any big plans?
When I think about the future, I don’t necessarily think about bigger titles—I think about bigger impact. My goal is to help more people become the best and happiest version of themselves, whether that’s a young person discovering their potential, a first-time manager learning to lead with confidence, or an executive team building a healthier organizational culture.
At Youth Empowerment, I’m excited to continue expanding our programs, strengthening our organizational capacity, and creating more opportunities for young people and families through workforce development, strategic partnerships, and sustainable funding.
With Collaborative Hive, my focus is on growing our leadership development and organizational consulting work. While I enjoy speaking, I’m most passionate about facilitating workshops and working directly with organizations. There’s something incredibly rewarding about watching a team shift its perspective, strengthen its communication, and leave with practical tools they can immediately apply. Those moments of transformation are what drive me.
Through the Philanthropy Collective, I want to continue building the University Club into the premier hub for nonprofit collaboration in Southern California—a place where nonprofit leaders, funders, corporate partners, and community advocates come together to learn from one another, build meaningful relationships, and create lasting impact across our region.
Ultimately, I hope my work helps people realize that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating environments where people feel seen, supported, challenged, and empowered to grow. If I can help individuals become better leaders, stronger teammates, and happier versions of themselves, I know the organizations and communities they serve will be stronger because of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.collaborativehive.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajcrespo94/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajcrespo94
