Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisha Ochoa.
Alisha, before we jump into specific questions about the organization, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After graduating college from Cal State San Marcos in 2012, I set out to become a Professor. I wanted to change the world, but the world had different plans. I became sick, my parents divorced, I ended a nine-year relationship, and suddenly I was in yoga teacher training instead of therapy. I was on a mission to figure out who I was and what type of woman I wanted to become. I found support through my friends, family, and the women in my life as I explored different career paths.
I tried everything from working in a science lab to writing copy for Amazon, teaching yoga, and working for a software company. These may sound varied, and they are, but I realized that the common themes have to do with community and education over time.
After starting and ending, a successful networking group from 2016-2018, I found myself depleted, with numerous health issues. I gave myself a break from entrepreneurship as I solely focused on the corporate world. Shortly thereafter, I started to feel the tug to start something new. That’s how ALO Co. was born.
ALO Co. is a merger of my passion for connecting female entrepreneurs with my skillset in community building, education, and software development. It’s an exploration of human relationships in the digital landscape that have true value and authentic connection.
Has it been a smooth road?
For anyone who tells you the road to entrepreneurship is easy isn’t telling you the whole story. When you start a company, especially as a solopreneur, you’re consistently juggling multiple roles within your company. My biggest challenge, and highest value, has been learning how to build ALO Co. in an energetically sustainable way. I want to make sure I’m in it for the long haul. It’s hard for me to slow down when I want results and the know-how to get them. Simultaneously, I know that if I burn myself out, that won’t do me, or my community, any good. I’ve done that before and frankly, it took a long time to bounce back from. I’m not interested in going down that path again, which means that I need to be patient and intentional with my time and tasks.
We’d love to hear more about the organization.
ALO Co. is a membership-based community for female entrepreneurs. It was born out of the need for authentic community + connection in the digital landscape. Our foundation is a digital directory with hundreds of women from various industries. We want to connect you with women to collaborate with and support. We also include a library of resources, monthly virtual events, and various programming that help you grow personally and professionally as you make new friends and connect to your community.
On a personal level, I’ve made amazing relationships through various digital platforms. I want to present the same opportunity for women around the world. Real, authentic friendships, no matter where you are. I want women to feel like they have the support they need to live their lives unapologetically.
I feel like the sum of my pride around ALO Co. is summed up by Maya Angelou’s quote, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Earlier this quarter, I ran a program called Workshare. I gathered a small cohort of women for a virtual weekly meetup geared around accountability and goal setting. At the end of it, I asked each woman what their biggest takeaways were or what they were most proud of. I was expecting answers based on tangible goals and was surprised when they responded with answers around their confidence level and connectedness.
One woman said, “I finally feel like I’m in a community of women who understand what it’s like to run a business and a family. I’ve learned how to prioritize my family and teach my kids that I LOVE my work, but that I can still spend full days with them being present”.
Another woman noted, “I feel powerful. I’m confident in the fact that I know what I’m capable of, and I don’t have to be afraid of what’s going to happen if I fail. I’ve never had this freedom before”.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
In the next 5-10 years, I think there is going to be a huge shift in digital connections. We already know that people can meet their partners online through dating apps like Bumble, Hinge, or Tinder… why not meet friends too? As we navigate through an era where people are social distancing, digital communication and community is becoming a key strategy to staying connected, fighting loneliness, and even depression.
According to a study done by the University of California, Irvine, texting and selfies can serve the same purpose and encompass the same “core qualities” as face-to-face relationships. You can build real intimacy online as long as both parties understand the intention behind it.
Pricing:
- Community Conversations by ALO Co.- Monthly Virtual Meetup ($0.00)
- Monthly Membership ($12.99/month)
- Annual Membership ($124.99/year)
Contact Info:
- Website: http://alococommunity.com/
- Email: alisha@joinaloco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ALO.Co.Community/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoinALOCo/
Image Credit:
Lauren Ogden, Alandra Michelle and Emily Rehm
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