Lyte presents “Womxn at Lyte,” a series of conversations highlighting the voices of our womxn.
Q: What did you think you wanted to be and how do you think you came to that decision?
Alexa Polin: I wanted to be an actress and I was very insistent. I did commercials and auditioned for a Pringles commercial and a cereal commercial. I loved entertaining. But then I would go to work with my dad on days off from school. He's a lawyer and I really liked the environment. I didn't know exactly what was going on, but I knew that it was an intense environment. I was either going to be an actress or a lawyer - or entertainment law. There’s a photo of me when I was 10 years old with a briefcase.
Q: What would your younger self be most surprised about how you live your life today?
Alexa Polin: Honestly, my younger self wouldn't be surprised. I have the same energy that I carried when I was younger. The only difference is I know how to channel it better and how to control it. I think I'm more in touch with myself than back then. It’s kind of humbling for personal reasons, and I feel like patting myself on the back.
Q: What do you think is the hardest part of what you do for a living?
Alexa Polin: One of the hardest parts is I'm so emotionally invested and passionate about what I do for a living. It tends to overwhelm my life, a little bit, so it kind of bleeds into work-life balance. I also have a hard time with people not being satisfied or happy or when people feel disappointed. I'm very empathetic, and so I feel that really strongly. I feel so defeated and it adds so much more stress and does the absolute opposite of what we strive to do. It’s really hard to overcome those moments. As a fan myself, I know how stressful and how much planning takes to get to a live show. Whether it's a small or giant festival, there's always some kind of blending involved and when you're disappointed the year turns around. I just empathize so much, and it's a problem in general for me, my empathy and my love for this industry can be somewhat of an issue.
Q: What do you love about working at Lyte?
Alexa Polin: I love the highs and lows. Honestly, I've been challenged so much at this company and the challenges have helped me grow as a person in so many ways. I’ve been challenged by the work itself. I've been challenged by fans. I've been challenged by my director and by my peers. It’s very uplifting to work here. Every day that I wake up, I feel I’m stepping into something I'm passionate about and that's just really hard for a lot of people to say. I don't ever stop thinking about Lyte. And not just about product potential but about the Lyte community and the roles everyone plays. Whether you say a word in a meeting or not, your presence has an effect on this company and you're doing something that's impacting everyone in some way. It’s crazy to me how strong this company feels. It’s an empowering place to be and it doesn't feel like work, it feels like we're on a mission and we're all in this together. That sounds super cliche and I can't believe I said that! I feel at home here, and I think that's something special.
Q: What lesson took you the longest to unlearn?
Alexa Polin: You don't have to fix everything right away. I don't have to fix everything and I don't have to fix everything right away. It took me a long time because I’m very reactive. I don't ever sit and think the solution might cause more problems. I have learned to stop and really think about the solution.
Q: What have you accomplished recently that would have shocked you a year ago?
Alexa Polin: How big this job is. Helping produce a couple of different festivals and events in San Diego. When I sign off at the end of the day with Lyte, I turn on another side of my brain and it's working in the music industry in another way.
Q: What are you more afraid of failure or success and why?
Alexa Polin: I'm afraid of absolutes. Failure and success are such absolutes to me and I kind of disregard both words. We're growing. That's what everyone's doing and that's what everyone can relate to. As we grow there may be branches that grow stronger but there may be some weaker branches, but it's still all growing and evolving. I’m not really afraid of failure or success.
Q: What's non-negotiable in your life?
Alexa Polin: Music and being involved in music. I don't think that there will ever be a point in my life where I’m not contributing to the world of music in some way because music makes people happy. Music brings people together. Music is an expression of people's inner selves. There will never be a point in my life where music is not a part of it.
Q: What can womxn create together or what do we want to create together?
Alexa Polin: We have the ability to interact with one another in an uplifting, constructive, and honest way. That in itself is creating something. I think womxn, all have a different story, but we all possess this unlimited strength, grit, and hustle. We are a powerhouse of emotional intelligence. We all possess this understanding of the world that is flourished by that we understand more than anyone. When I'm in a room with some of the womxn at Lyte I feel the energy of the room.
Q: What's the most exciting improvement for womxn in the industry or in general?
Alexa Polin: It’s inspiring to see womxn as power figures in this industry, stepping into roles that maybe once before didn’t make sense. When you think about the music industry 20-30 years ago, you think about these male powerhouses. Now I look at clients like FEMME HOUSE, run entirely by womxn and I am in awe by the impact they continue to have and the way they gracefully challenge the way of this industry.
Q: What title would you give this chapter in your life?
Alexa Polin: Remember that 90’s children’s show “Out of the Box?” This company is a little bit like that show 😉 I’ve concluded that sometimes asking for forgiveness is better than permission. Experiment, take notes, fail, try new methods, try old methods. The small risks can propel you forward. I’m in the mode of – I’m going to act on this idea because my gut is telling me to. For the first time in a long time, I’m ready to act on those decisions, because I know they’re going to be impactful. And when they’re not, they’re just another learning experience.
Q: Any last words you want to leave us with?
Alexa Polin: I went to a four-year college and I was always being fed this idea of these 4 years being essential to shaping myself. I really didn't find myself in college. And then I found Lyte. Now I'm almost 4 years in and I feel like I just had those four years of college. I've learned so much more about myself than I did when I was in college. When I first started, I was undoubtedly an amateur. I had no idea what I was doing. I've evolved and absorbed so much from everyone around me. Everyone I’ve worked with over the years has made a significant impact on my growth and has allowed me to see the beauty in chaos. The people I’ve interacted with have encouraged me to access a level of creativity and tap into a new way of thinking. I used to fear speaking up in meetings because I didn't want to say the wrong thing, but I’ve gotten inspired to speak up. No dumb questions and no dumb solutions.
Womxn at Lyte featuring Alexa Polin, Senior Client Services at Lyte