Today we’d like to introduce you to Alejandra Iorgulescu
Hi Alejandra, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m Alejandra, although most people in the USA have always called me “Alex.” I’m an outdoors lover and road-trip fanatic, and created a YouTube channel to share my passion with the world! But before I dive into how that was born, let me tell you a bit about my past:
I was born and raised in the vibrant city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, where my love for exploration was ignited at an early age. Growing up, summers meant loading up our Ford green station wagon (very 80’s, I know!) and embarking on road trips from Bs. As. to Patagonia — about 1,000 miles away. Those trips, filled with stunning lakes, majestic mountains, and endless discoveries, planted the seeds of my adventurous spirit.
But my true wanderlust didn’t fully bloom until 2001, when I went on a solo European adventure through France, Belgium, and Ireland. That trip forever changed me, and I caught the travel bug for good.
A year after that unforgettable vacation, at 25 years old and feeling restless, I made the bold decision to pack my bags, leave everything behind and move to California. The weather, the breathtaking variety of landscapes all within an hour or 2 away, and the promise of endless fresh adventures cemented it for me. It was here that I fell in love with the wide-open road all over again.
My YouTube journey though, would not start until many, many years later, and only after a life-changing solo cross-country road trip from Los Angeles to Georgia and back. Somewhere along the long drive back home, I imagined and dreamed up what would eventually become my channel.
At this point, I already had years of experience in the software sector and web technologies, but no videography or editing experience.
Nonetheless, I figured I could learn it as I went, and without second thought launched my channel “Miles and Hikes” on December 23rd, 2022. The name reflects my two great passions: the miles I log on the road and the hikes that feed my soul in the great outdoors.
Today, I’m proud of how far I’ve come: from my roots in Buenos Aires to embracing my adventurous spirit in California, to my first 1000 subscribers.
Join me as I explore new places, share stories from the road, and savor the beauty of life in the great outdoors!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting and managing a YouTube channel is no easy feat. Many people assume it’s as simple as hitting record, uploading, and letting the views roll in—but the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Running a successful channel requires wearing multiple hats and mastering a wide range of skills. Here are just a few:
Time management: Balancing the demands of creating high-quality content, editing videos, and managing the channel is a challenge on its own—especially when, like me, you’re also juggling a full-time job.
Consistency: Consistency is the backbone of growth on YouTube. Yet, maintaining a regular schedule can be tough when life throws unexpected challenges or work commitments your way.
A steep learning curve: Being a YouTuber essentially means becoming a jack-of-all-trades. You have to master video editing, graphic design, web marketing, SEO, social media management, analytics, sound editing, community management, and so much more.
Despite these challenges, I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. The constant learning, the creativity it demands, and the excitement of seeing a new subscriber join the community make it all worthwhile. It’s these hurdles that actually keep me motivated, and I can’t imagine ever wanting to stop.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and Advertising, and have spent nearly 20 years working in the tech sector.
However, my true passion in life—apart from exploring the great outdoors—has always been electronic music. My proudest accomplishment is founding a record label and radio station back in 2010, a project that allowed me to merge creativity and technology in a way that felt deeply fulfilling and rewarding like nothing else before.
For the radio station, I managed a 24/7 live stream, overseeing all aspects of production. This included conceptualizing shows, curating DJ sets, and collaborating with artists, DJ’s, and industry professionals to deliver top-quality content to listeners around the world.
As for the record label, BeatLounge Records as it was called, it was a dream come true. Signing some of the most iconic names in the electronic music industry—legends like Moby, Miss Kittin, Tricky, and Morcheeba—was nothing short of exhilarating and a feat in its own being that we were mainly unknown. It remains one of the biggest highlights of my career.
Unfortunately, life threw me a curveball, and in 2015 I had to step away from both projects. But creativity always has a way of calling you back, right? and I’m currently brainstorming new ideas to once again build or manage a project where innovation, creativity, and technology intersect.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Risk-taking, to me, is about embracing uncertainty to pursue growth, adventure, and meaningful change. Remember that one of the biggest risks I’ve taken was leaving everything behind—friends, family, and familiarity—to move thousands of miles away and start over in a completely new country?. That decision challenged me to step out of my comfort zone a million times, but it has also taught me a great deal of resilience and the value of betting on myself.
That said, I don’t consider myself a reckless risk-taker. I tend to overthink situations sometimes and weigh the pros and cons carefully. But ultimately, I believe that the risks we don’t take are the ones we’re most likely to regret.
For instance, I’m now exploring the idea of going on the road full-time, since I already work remotely, while documenting my adventures on YouTube. Even if it’s just for a few months at a time, this would mean a completely new lifestyle, one that will most likely push me to adapt and find balance between work, exploration, and creativity, and the challenges of being on the road.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.milesandhikes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milesandhikes
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@milesandhikes
