#WCW: Alex Diorio

Alex Diorio is an Event Vice-Chair with City Year Boston and our next #WomxnCrushWednesday interviewee! Each week leading up to our 2019 , we will be featuring one of the incredible womxn who help make the event a reality.

Alex Diorio is a very proud alumn of City Year (2014, 2015) and had the privilege to serve in two cities: Boston, MA and Denver, CO. Alex spent the last three years as an exceptional staff member at City Year Boston, focusing on People & Operations initiatives and strategies, and always leading with kindness. Recently, Alex has joined the WeWork team as their Community Manager, overseeing the 501 Boylston building. More than anything, Alex enjoys spending quality time with loved ones, surrounding herself with inspiring and empowering femmes, exploring new places (especially food-related!), and coaching soccer for elementary schoolers!

Dequila Jones, Individual Giving Manager for City Year Boston, sat down with Alex to learn more about who inspires this #WCW.

Dequila Jones: You have quite the City Year legacy! Why do you remain so connected to the organization?

Alex Diorio: City Year has invested in me and my growth and continues to be an organization that I believe deeply and whole-heartedly in. The organization has been such an integral part of both my personal and professional development over the past 5 years (I served as an AmeriCorps member my first year, then returned for a second year as a Senior AmeriCorps member, and continued on for 3 years as a staff member.) I’ve seen the impact City Year has on both our students and the inspiring AmeriCorps members who have the privilege of working with them, and want to continue supporting and staying involved with this amazing organization.

DJ: Sounds like you’ve had many great leaders in your life. What are some traits you think great leaders possess?

AD: To me, a great leader is someone who invests in and empowers their team; someone who is willing to be transparent, make bold choices and admit their mistakes freely. I think what separates great leaders is their ability to be strategic in their decisions in order to maximize their own or their team???s capacity and efforts while simultaneously ensuring they are uplifting and spotlighting the voices and capabilities of their team.

DJ: Can you tell me about a woman who has inspired you professionally?

AD: My former supervisor at City Year Boston, Carlen Armina, is the most amazing leader, mentor, and supervisor that I have had the privilege of working with. Although our professional paths crossed very briefly, she taught me SO much about what it means to truly lead with a clear strategic vision and how to execute with excellence. She gave me the opportunity to be creative and really stretched myself professionally while providing me with an enormous amount of coaching and resources to guide me. Carlen invested in me and my growth each and every day, and even when she no longer managed me, she would check in regularly and would continue to guide me through personal and professional challenges. As I look back on the last two years, I am incredibly humbled to have had the opportunity to watch and learn from her during her time at City Year.