Alexia Poe has spent her career helping people make sense of complicated moments. Long before she became known for strategic communications and crisis management, she was a young television reporter in Northeast Tennessee learning how to tell stories clearly and quickly. The fast pace of journalism taught her how to stay calm under pressure and focus on what really matters.
Born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, Poe graduated magna cum laude from the University of Tennessee before moving into public service. She became Press Secretary to Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist, making history as the youngest person and only the second woman to hold the role. From there, her career expanded to the national stage with work in the White House for First Lady Laura Bush and later helping build the communications office for U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander.
Over the years, Poe also led communications and strategy efforts for major public and private organizations, including Gaylord Entertainment, the office of Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, and Governor Bill Haslam’s administration.
In 2015, she launched Poe Consulting, LLC in Nashville. Through her firm, she helps organizations navigate change, strengthen leadership communication, and turn ideas into action.
Outside of work, Poe remains active in civic and nonprofit organizations, supports education initiatives, and serves on the University of Tennessee Knoxville Chancellor’s Advisory Board. Her career reflects a simple idea: clear communication creates trust, momentum, and lasting impact.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My mornings start early and quietly. I am usually up before everyone else in the house. I check my computer, grab my notebook, and write down the three things that absolutely need to happen that day. Not 10 things. Just three. That habit keeps me focused.
Most days are a mix of client calls, strategy sessions, writing, and problem-solving. No two days really look the same. One hour might involve helping someone prepare for a difficult public conversation, and the next could involve organizational planning or reviewing messaging for a major announcement.
I also build in thinking time. People underestimate how important that is. Some of my best ideas come while walking outside or driving without the radio on.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I start by simplifying them. If an idea is too complicated to explain clearly, it is probably not ready yet.
When I worked in government, I saw projects fail because people skipped alignment. Everyone thought they understood the vision, but they were all moving in slightly different directions.
I like to ask: What is the goal? Who needs to understand it? What happens next? Once those answers are clear, execution becomes easier.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I think people are finally realizing that leadership communication matters more than polished branding.
Employees and audiences can tell when something feels overly scripted. There is more value now in clarity and honesty than in sounding perfect.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Writing things down by hand.
I know that sounds old-fashioned, but it works for me. During stressful situations, I still use legal pads and handwritten notes. It slows my thinking down enough to organize priorities.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Do not confuse being busy with being effective.
Earlier in my career, I thought saying yes to everything proved commitment. Eventually I learned that focus matters more than constant motion.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I think most meetings should be 20 to 30 minutes long.
People often talk too much when they are uncertain. Shorter meetings force people to focus on decisions instead of performance.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Ask one more question.
Some of the biggest communication problems I have seen happened because people assumed instead of asking.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I step away from the noise for a little while. Usually that means taking a walk in my neighborhood or Warner Parks or sitting somewhere quiet without my phone.
The worst decisions happen when people react emotionally and too quickly.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Relationships built over time.
A lot of opportunities in my career came from trust, not networking events. People remember whether you stay calm, solve problems, and communicate clearly during difficult situations.
That reputation compounds over time.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Early in my career, I once overprepared a communications rollout to the point where it became too complicated internally, and I tried to manage everything myself without delegating clear roles or responsibilities to others. Everyone had documents, talking points, and briefing materials, but people still felt confused.
That experience taught me that clarity and delegation beats volume every time.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I think there is room for a company focused entirely on helping organizations reduce unnecessary internal communication.
Not more communication. Better communication.
Most workplaces are overloaded with meetings, emails, and updates that do not solve problems or improve alignment.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Honestly, Microsoft OneNote.
I use it constantly for organizing projects, speech notes, client plans, and meeting takeaways. It acts like a second brain for me.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. It is about a woman that finds herself in a dark place but has the opportunity to explore different versions of what her life could have been, to pursue what she felt were missed opportunities, and ends up realizing what is truly important to her.
It is a reminder that while life is made up of disappointments and doesn’t always go how we expect it to or think it should, that is all part of the experience that shapes us, spurs growth in us and makes us who we are.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently rewatched episodes of “The West Wing.” The dialogue, pace, the problem-solving, the pressure — parts of it feel very familiar, except the staff seemed to always have the right answer ready instead of in the real world when the reply is typically, “I’m not exactly sure. I’ll find out and get you that answer asap.”
It captures how fast decisions move when stakes are high.
Key learnings
- Clear communication is often the difference between momentum and confusion.
- Strong leadership starts with listening and asking better questions.
- Simplicity creates alignment faster than overly complicated planning.
- Trust is built during difficult moments, not easy ones.
- Consistent relationships and steady communication create long-term opportunities.