From Knowing Nothing About Elevators to Building an Elevator Company | Monika Stypulkowska

In this episode, Monika Stypulkowska proves that you don’t need decades in an industry to make an impact. Monika arrived in the United States with no prior elevator knowledge and just six years later founded Alfa Elevators. With curiosity, relentless persistence, and a commitment to serving customers, she overcame obstacles, earned trust in a male-dominated field, and built a respectable business. In this conversation, Monika shares what it’s like to build an elevator business, why persistence beats experience, and how putting customers first has become the foundation of her company’s success.

Transcript:

Monika Stypulkowska (00:00)
the hardest lesson, I guess it’s all the time you have lessons every day, new challenges that you have

Matt Allred (00:07)
Mm-hmm.

Monika Stypulkowska (00:07)
to face. And as you grow, I think it’s even more. That’s That’s why I like it. I don’t like to be stable.

so yes, definitely as you grow, more problems, but but also more research, more people around. I started to get a bigger community, more technicians that I can ask questions, or like people like you in the industry that I can follow up. that’s

been very helpful for me.

Matt Allred (00:36)
Yeah, I can’t imagine the learning curve just by now you You’ve read the codes, but at some point along the way, you maybe didn’t even know what the codes were. It’s like, Okay, where do I start?

Matt Allred (00:47)
Hello and welcome to the Elevator Careers Podcast brought to you by the Allred Group. I’m your host, Matt Allred. When talent is mission critical, call the Allred Group. With industry expertise, top talent, and exceptional customer service, you need the Allred Group on your side. Your priority is our priority. Call now 404-890-0445. In this episode, Monika Stypulkowska proves that you don’t need decades in an industry.

To make an impact. Monika arrived in the United States with no prior elevator knowledge and just six years later founded Alfa Elevators. With curiosity, relentless persistence, and a commitment to serving customers, she overcame obstacles, earned trust in a male-dominated field, and built a respectable business. In this conversation, Monika shares what it’s like to build an elevator business, why persistence beats experience, and how putting customers first has become the foundation of her company’s success.

Matt Allred (01:45)
Monika welcome to the show.

Monika Stypulkowska (01:46)
Thank you so much. Thank you for having me.

Matt Allred (01:48)
Thank you. No, I I appreciate you being here. I’m interested in learning more about your story and and how you’ve created your own company. I mean, it’s and it’s interesting to me, it’s fascinating, really. You arrived in America, what, just six years ago, and now you’re running an elevator company. What was going through your mind when you first stepped off the plane? And, you know, did you ever imagine that you would end up right here?

Monika Stypulkowska (02:11)
Yes, no, absolutely never imagined that. I guess I came to America with an open mind. I was young. I was trying to create opportunities for myself. never thought I will have an elevator company. I guess it just came naturally for me. I just wanted to, I had craving of creating something on my own and just making an impact, I guess.

Matt Allred (02:36)
Okay. So so business ownership and business creation was always part of the plan. You just didn’t think it would be elevators. Is that fair?

Monika Stypulkowska (02:45)
Yes, yes, absolutely. Elevators were I never even thought a industry like this exists, so definitely not that.

Matt Allred (02:52)
Yeah,

like I say it’s an amazing story. And and like you said, most people probably never think about elevators as a career. what was it about the that first conversation you met? You said you met an elevator technician. What was it that kind of captured your attention, your imagination and said, Hey, this is it?

Monika Stypulkowska (03:10)
Yeah, I guess just I was just curious. so when I heard technician works on elevators, I guess I was just very curious about it. I never thought about it.

and something new that I never heard and I’m always open to learning things and having opportunities

Matt Allred (03:30)
what do you think

emboldened you to say, yeah, that’s the one I wanna choose, even though you’ve knew nothing about it?

Monika Stypulkowska (03:38)
I guess it’s just my personality. you’re never ready for anything. so I just saw an awesome opportunity. that nobody ever that I’ve heard personally in my life did anything like this. And elevator industry, like maybe different construction trades. so I was just very fascinated.

Matt Allred (03:59)
Yeah, no, that’s awesome. and like you said, you didn’t come from the trade, essentially kind of an an outsider looking in. what do you think you came by the confidence to to jump into something that, wasn’t in your background, there was no tradition.

Monika Stypulkowska (04:15)
Yeah, I guess curiosity. also I think because it’s a male dominate industry and I’m a female, so it’s always like drives me. I was always in sports, so I think that passion kinda like, I wanna prove something.

so I guess that was my my thinking.

Matt Allred (04:39)
And which which is is fascinating too. So rather than being intimidated and rather than saying, I can’t, it was like, No, I’m going to and I’m gonna prove that I can.

Monika Stypulkowska (04:49)
Yes, a little bit delusional I think.

Matt Allred (04:52)
Ha ha ha.

Monika Stypulkowska (04:53)
but yes, that’s definitely my personality.

Matt Allred (04:56)
No,

that’s it’s awesome. was there a moment when you thought, this is either gonna work or I’m about to make a huge mistake?

Monika Stypulkowska (05:04)
I think it’s always like crosses our mind things like this that what if something is not gonna work out? I think in everything in life works the same way. You just have to go and learn from mistakes.

So

that’s what I did.

Matt Allred (05:21)
Yeah. Yeah. No, it’s

that’s a good point, right? I I remember hearing a quote from I think it was like George Patton, right? One of those World War II generals and he said, yeah, I have fears, but I don’t I don’t listen to them, right? It’s like yeah, they’re gonna be there,

Monika Stypulkowska (05:34)
Yeah.

Matt Allred (05:34)
his point was you you can’t really what do you say, take counsel from something, right? He’s like, I’m just not gonna listen and just gonna move

Monika Stypulkowska (05:39)
Yeah. Yeah.

Matt Allred (05:41)
ahead. you talked about, you know, working in this very

male dominated industry. And I’m curious do you have moments when people maybe underestimate you? And how do you respond to that?

Monika Stypulkowska (05:55)
yes, absolutely. I think all the time I do get weird looks or maybe people questioning me. which is normal. I think also that drives me that people question me. So I’m like, okay, cool. I’m gonna prove you that I can actually make it happen and I’ll show you from the work I put in.

that I can make it work. So yeah, that’s definitely something that customers see later on. Like, okay, yes, if Monika said that way, then that that’s how I build trust. Like I just show my work ethic. If I don’t have all the answers, I always try my best to get those answers. And then just prove my customers and myself as well.

Matt Allred (06:37)
Yeah. Do you have an example that you could share? Maybe when when somebody was questioning you and then you did exactly that, came through and what did you create as far as the the relationship and the trust?

Monika Stypulkowska (06:49)
So if I have any questions or if we don’t have answers to those

Matt Allred (06:53)
Mm-hmm.

Monika Stypulkowska (06:54)
questions, I know I’m always that person that I will get to the bottom and I’ll find out how. So I had a meeting with general contractors, elevator technicians that were in the business for 10 plus years, and they just couldn’t figure out it was some power issues that we had.

but nobody knew, like, okay, something’s not right, but basically they brushed it off. Like, it’s just not it’s not gonna work. I’m like, no,

Matt Allred (07:21)
Hmm.

Monika Stypulkowska (07:21)
it has to work. and they’re like, okay, yes, she’s she’s gonna know. I’m like, no, I don’t know, but I know it’s always a solution to a problem.

so I just did my research, called a lot of different people, and I find my way to

get to the bottom and I prove to them. And I remember also, I can get so people get so maybe annoyed with me because I really want to get to the bottom. So now when I call different offices or for permitting or for any reason they know okay Monica’s calling like she needs to know all the answers.

and they provide me that because i can be very direct and like i i need this information but yes so when i was at the meeting with the general contractor and technicians and they didn’t know the answers and then i proved to them that okay i found a way that we can do a little bit different and then i spoke to the inspector to kind of approve my idea because I

looked up the codes, I followed the codes, and then found a loophole that we can still

follow the code, but was never said that we cannot do something. which I just thought about it myself after like hours of not sleeping and thinking about the way because the equipment was already ordered, very expensive,

the timeline was

ticking down, yeah. Yes.

Matt Allred (08:49)
yeah.

Monika Stypulkowska (08:51)
And it was a brand new apartment building, people about to move in, but we need to get this inspection done, but it’s not going the right way. And then yeah, basically I found a loophole. And then everybody was surprised. Even the inspector was like, oh wow Monika, actually, yeah, that’s that’s not a violation. Everything is good, it’s by code. You found a loophole, good for you, and approved.

that was definitely a proud moment and something that everybody was like, wow, that I actually helped and found a way.

Matt Allred (09:23)
Yeah,

no, that’s awesome. I mean, it it’s it’s obviously a huge win, but it but it also really speaks to your persistence and your just your willingness to find a solution, right? There’s gotta be a solution somewhere. Let’s do the homework, let’s make the phone calls, it’s you know, whatever legwork needs to be done to find it. And that’s amazing. Obviously they’re gonna remember that, right? That okay, she’s determined, she’s gonna she’s gonna make it

Monika Stypulkowska (09:45)
Yeah.

Matt Allred (09:45)
work. honestly I think it builds a lot of trust with those other parties because they know that you’re

You’re determined to to be successful.

Monika Stypulkowska (09:53)
Yes, I think determination. So now the general contractor when he calls, he’s like, Okay, if you have questions, Monika, ask her. Even I don’t have the answers right away, but I’m determined to

get to the bottom. So that’s great.

Matt Allred (10:07)
that’s awesome. you’ve talked about, you know, caring deeply about customers doing things the right way. Where do you think that mindset comes from? how has it maybe shaped the culture that you’re building at Alfa Elevators?

Monika Stypulkowska (10:19)
so I always focus on customers. I feel like they have a lot of pressure from owners, from other people around them. They have a lot of things going on that they want to solve. and I feel like just property managers.

They feel attacked from different sides and I just don’t want Alfa Elevators just to be another trade, like okay, yeah, just do the work and that’s it. I want them to feel secure

and that know, like, okay, we will complete the work correctly. And I guess just to be honest with the customer.

always try to explain. The same way when I came, I didn’t know anything about elevators. So I have some kind of understanding. So I guess it’s also it helps me to provide that information in a simple way to property managers. That way they feel comfortable and understand the industry more.

Matt Allred (11:21)
Yeah. Yeah. So I mean, on one hand, it sounds like, you know, giving them the support they need, the service they need, the information they need. But what also comes to mind is like you said there’s a lot of pressure. There’s a lot of, high stress. How do you diffuse or help your customers maybe diffuse some of that stress that comes their way?

Monika Stypulkowska (11:39)
I I tell them, put the stress on me. I can handle it.

Matt Allred (11:43)
Ha ha.

Monika Stypulkowska (11:44)
Of course, I’m joking. But yes, I always say, okay, at the end of the day, we all want a solution to the problem. So let me help you with that. So tell me what you need, and I will make it happen.

I guess that’s the only way to be with the customers. because yeah, a lot of pressure from from the owners, from the residents. So I totally understand. I tell them, okay, hold on, deep breath. I also get sometimes stress. Let’s think about it, relax, and just get to the bottom.

Matt Allred (12:16)
that’s great. I mean, I’m sure they value having someone who is willing to help them carry that burden and solve the problem, right? At the end of the day, they’ve got a lot of different pressures coming at them. And this is just one of many. You know, it obviously they’ve got to worry about other issues, whether it’s the roof or the foundation or the water or the electric or tenants, like you say. So being able to to provide that support has got to be huge.

So I wanted to bounce back, you know, just to your business. I’m curious what what would you say is the hardest lesson that you’ve learned in the first four years of being a business owner?

Monika Stypulkowska (12:53)
the hardest lesson, I guess it’s all the time you have lessons every day, new challenges that you have

to face. And as you grow, I think it’s even more. it’s It’s always something, but I I always had understanding that will always be something more. That’s That’s why I like it. I don’t like to be stable.

I like to always have new challenges. so yes, definitely as you grow, more problems, but also more research, more people around. I started to get a bigger community, more technicians that I can ask questions, or like people like you in the industry that I can follow up. So I think that’s so so great and

been very helpful for me.

Matt Allred (13:37)
Yeah, I can’t imagine the learning curve know, where to find certain things in the codes. You’ve read the codes, but at some at some point along the way, you maybe didn’t even know what the codes were. It’s like, Okay, where do I start?

Monika Stypulkowska (13:52)
Oh yes yes, definitely. Sometimes I remember, especially the first year, when do I have to get a permit? For what work do I have to get for this? Yes or no? So sometimes I’ve been even talking to a customer or anybody else, and okay, yes, you need to follow this and that code I’m like oh

Okay, no problem. And I didn’t know. And I’m like, damn, okay, I need to go and do more research. So that’s definitely something I was like surprised that it’s just so much things into elevators. Some people think like, yeah, elevators, they go up and down, and that’s it. I’m like, well, actually, it’s a lot more into it.

I

guess also like it makes me excited because I always can learn something new. I find out about new things. so that’s been great.

Matt Allred (14:45)
Yeah, yes. Yeah. If you learn love learning new things, there’s so much to learn, right? And the phrase we sometimes say is, you know, drinking out of a fire hose. You’ve you’ve heard that one, right?

Monika Stypulkowska (14:54)
No, actually I didn’t. Drink out of the fire. Okay.

Matt Allred (14:57)
I mean, you can you can just imagine, right?

You’re you’re trying to learn, but it’s like, no, the information is just coming so fast, it’s like you know, feel like you’re getting blown away by a fire hose versus taking a drink.

Monika Stypulkowska (15:08)
Yes, I think I was maybe in the beginning more like, my gosh, okay, I think I will quit. It’s just too much. I’m finding out. Like I’m not ready. But

Matt Allred (15:18)
Ha

Monika Stypulkowska (15:18)
I always say like you’re never gonna be ready for anything. Just keep going, keep learning, don’t close out, you know, be open-minded, do your research, do your job, and I’ll be fine.

Matt Allred (15:32)
Yeah. Yeah. I think that’s a an amazing attitude, right? Is just stay the course, right? You keep walking, you keep moving, you keep learning. Even when you’re getting blasted by a fire hose of information, it’s like, okay, I’m starting to understand more and more and more. So that’s awesome. said that finding people with both skill and passion has been a a big challenge. What do you think separates the people who thrive in this industry from people who don’t?

Monika Stypulkowska (15:57)
I think passion, passion about the industry, but also caring about other people.

that’s definitely something that has to be it it just works together.

Matt Allred (16:10)
Sure. Yeah, for sure. And and even if, you know, a lot of people maybe don’t have to deal with a lot of people. Maybe they’re, you know, working on, you know, the equipment all the time. And yet it’s still a very much a people business, right? There’s still people, there’s networks, there’s even those folks that that are in the background working and fixing also have their network of, like you say, of caring about people and kind of building that that piece of it. So

is there anything in particular that you as a company do to to try to find or develop those people?

Monika Stypulkowska (16:44)
I wish there were more people like this. I mean, I know they are people like this. It’s just very hard to to find

those individuals. But that’s definitely my goal to have people that have both of it. And I I also try to show them that okay, I have passion, to elevators and to people, because it is a people business, like you said. So I try to show that to my employees

and basically just, you know, try to be focused on not just fixing the elevators but also caring

Matt Allred (17:22)
well, let’s let’s talk for a minute about you know, property managers again. you’ve said that they often tell you they’re frustrated with other elevator companies. What are they saying is missing as far as, you know, what are they frustrated with and how does Alfa do things differently?

Monika Stypulkowska (17:40)
I think lack of communication and they just lost trust to other companies or in general

trades. ’cause what they think, okay, they just want the money, they they don’t care about the job or the customers, which

in my company I wanna care about the customers, about the jobs, about safety, reliability. So that’s definitely a strong point. and I

think I do a great job with that building that trust with the customer.

Matt Allred (18:09)
Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Well, and and you mentioned to me that you’re actively working towards becoming a licensed elevator mechanic, which probably helps you build more trust because you have more knowledge. And I’m curious why would you say that’s important to you when many CEOs, maybe they don’t need to be mechanics, but but tell me about that for you.

Monika Stypulkowska (18:29)
Yes, definitely I don’t need to be. I do get questions like, why?

you can just sit in the office or do whatever you need to do.

for me, it is important so I can answer more questions so I have more knowledge, so I have a better understanding, and then also to the customers, so they trust me because I have understanding and I can provide that information.

So I just feel like that is very important and I guess I just like to know everything about everything. So

Matt Allred (19:02)
Yeah, no,

I I think it’s great. And I think it again, I think it gives you more credibility, certainly with the customers, but also with your team, right? Because they may be out there working on things and if you have that same credential, you you’re gonna understand a lot better what they’re looking at and who knows, maybe you get your hands dirty at the same time. I don’t know, but

Monika Stypulkowska (19:21)
Yes, I definitely like to do that. Actually, I I had a new technician I hire a few months ago. He was working on an elevator and he sent me a report and on that report he was like, Okay, like something is not working. And I asked him, why it’s not working? He’s like, no.

And then he questioned himself, but also asked me back, like why are you so curious about that? Because I’m like, because I know the answer. And he was

Matt Allred (19:51)
Ha ha ha.

Monika Stypulkowska (19:53)
just so blown away, like, how do you know the answer? I’m like, because I had the situation. And I didn’t just like, okay, I didn’t look at the report. okay, not working. Okay, next one. I’m like, no, he didn’t give me the answer, and I know the answer.

So that

Matt Allred (20:10)
Yeah.

Monika Stypulkowska (20:10)
was definitely something I’m like, you see, because people do get comfortable and you get lazy, as I do too, with a lot of things. but that’s the that’s the thing not to get lazy and catch those little things so you can improve. so I definitely like to do that.

Matt Allred (20:33)
for sure. And then like I said, it’s a little bit of you know, building trust and credibility with your team, but a little bit of, you know, accountability, right? It’s it you can’t just

Monika Stypulkowska (20:41)
Accountability.

Matt Allred (20:42)
walk away and say, it’s not working. It’s like, no, the the boss is is gonna check your work and she’s gonna know.

Monika Stypulkowska (20:49)
Yeah. I think that’s great. I wish when once my company grows, I’ll go to the jobsite and I’ll know exactly like, this is not right. You didn’t do that, or that we can, you know, relate and just surprise people. I like to surprise people. and I feel like then my team is building

Like a stronger trust and stronger understanding, and they want to do better because I want to do better. So they do better too.

Matt Allred (21:17)
Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. So as we’re we’re kind of getting close to the end here and I’ve got a couple questions, just just to have you reflect. And and the first one is when you look back at the twenty five year old gym teacher who decided to start an elevator company, what would you tell her? Like if you could look back a few years as, you know, maybe you’re just at that beginning point, what would you say? What kind of advice would you give?

Monika Stypulkowska (21:42)
I mean I think everybody will say, okay, don’t be scared. just do it. But I did that. To be honest. I wasn’t I was scared. but I did it. But definitely I will encourage her more to like, okay, go full in. good things are gonna be happening and just go for it.

Matt Allred (22:05)
Yeah.

Yeah. No, that’s awesome. and obviously the all the learning, right? It it it probably looks like a a huge mountain to to tackle, but it’s like, no, you’ve got this.

Monika Stypulkowska (22:13)
Yes. Hmm.

Matt Allred (22:14)
Awesome. So

yeah, last question I have for you. Five years from today, what would make you say we built the exact company we hoped we would build?

Monika Stypulkowska (22:23)
I will love my company that I can be proud of. So for me to able to be proud of my company, I want all my customers, my clients to be an example saying yes, that Alfa elevators get things done.

That we are reliable but also trust worthy. so even if I make a mistake, and we will make mistakes, but I will tell the customer, listen, we did something wrong. we’ll try to fix it just to be transparent and honest. So that way I can be proud of my company, that we’re not hiding anything and just have

a strong community within the clients that can always say something nice about us. Doesn’t not necessarily have to be like the biggest company. That’s not my dream, but I guess just a strong foundation.

Matt Allred (23:17)
Absolutely. Monika, anything else you’d like to share with our listeners before we end?

Monika Stypulkowska (23:24)
I guess to follow your dreams doesn’t have to necessarily be what we envision for ourselves. I’m still young and I have a lot of ambitions, but the part that makes me happy is always just learning and being open to opportunities and see where it takes you.

Matt Allred (23:46)
Awesome. Well, thank you so much for being with me today. I’ve enjoyed it very much.

Monika Stypulkowska (23:50)
Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate

Matt Allred (23:53)
Yeah, no, it’s great. And I wish you the very best as you continue to build your business.

Monika Stypulkowska (23:58)
Thank you. Thank you so much.

Matt Allred (24:00)
Thank you for listening to the Elevator Careers Podcast sponsored by the Allred Group, a leader in elevator industry recruiting. Please visit our YouTube channel @ElevatorCareers or check us out online at elevatorcareers.net. Please like and subscribe and until next time, stay safe.