About Me
Hi, I’m Ashley. 👋🏻 I’m a creative consultant.
I didn’t set out to start my own shop, but the company I was working at was acquired in 2020.
While freelancing and collaborating with others, I realized I could make a meaningful impact building websites, crafting social media strategies, establishing systems for smoother operations, and most importantly acting as a trusted advisor to business leaders.
Because I ask for each founder’s story, it’s only fair that I share mine here.
I was born in southern Missouri as the youngest in a family that led with a love of community, unconventional wisdom, and a strong work ethic. My parents separated when I was very young, leaving my mother to make ends meet in a variety of really challenging roles including special education teacher, janitor, factory worker and farmer. She always found a way to provide and made surviving a team effort.
At age 10, we moved to suburban Chicago to care for my grandparents, and I gained access to a better education and more opportunities. In high school, I dreamed of becoming an artist but pivoted to business for fear of the financial uncertainty every artist faces. Community college introduced me to business classes like Economics and Accounting, and I excelled academically, even earning a Bronze Medal for Informational Speaking at Phi Rho Pi, the National Junior and Community College Forensic Association and Honor Society in 2007.
With a full scholarship, I transferred to Washington University in St. Louis, where I majored in International Studies. During my time there, I studied abroad in France, spoke at a leadership conference in South Korea, and participated in countless campus activities. After graduating in 2009 in the midst a global recession, I taught English in South Korea and worked in leadership programs in D.C. and New York City.
I loved living like a tumbleweed, but felt like a I needed to learn more so I returned to WashU for a master’s degree in International Affairs. I also did a summer semester abroad in International Development at the University of Oslo. While a graduate student, I worked full time at WashU in Alumni and Development cold calling alumni and parents to ask if they would meet with a development director traveling to their city.
It was a numbers game that became rote at a certain point so I took a sabbatical in search of meaning and in hopes of a clear sign of what should come next. I returned to Norway to connect with distant relatives, toured museums across Europe, and studied painting in the south of France.
Alas, all good things come to an end and I explored roles in advertising, sports, and insurance—each blending marketing, sales, communications, and operations. After the company I was at was acquired and my position made redundant, I transitioned to freelancing, which allowed me to use my diverse problem-solving skills to help clients in their starting up journey.
Today, I’m focused on projects with clients that are highly motivated, invested (time & money), and growth oriented. I’m always open to collaborations that make a difference and build community.
Want to connect? Follow me on LinkedIn or join me at an in-person event. I don’t send newsletters often, but feel free to subscribe for updates!
FAQs
Who do you typically work with?
I work with founders, small business owners, and creative professionals who want to grow with intention. Most of my clients are motivated, resourceful, and ready to turn ideas into action.
I don’t work well with folks that devalue the work of others, so if you think you can do it yourself… you probably should.
Do you consider yourself a coach?
I do not have coaching credentials but I am a cheerleader for all my clients. As a creative consultant, I love helping entrepreneurs solve problems that are holding them back and build sustainable systems.
A coach tells you what to do but doesn’t step into the arena with you. A creative consultant brings expertise, frameworks, and solutions to help you reach your goals.
A coach will offer personal or professional development, but ideally you already come to me with a growth mindset, leadership skills, and the necessary self-awareness.
From that starting point, we focus on strategy and execution: Audits what is and is not working, identifying potential roadblocks, creating proven systems of success, implementing refinements, and reviewing the results.
Like a coach, I always try to listen deeply, challenge assumptions, and then translate the insights we uncover into action. Our work focuses on tangible results and should always be transforming how you show up online and in-person in a meaningful way.
What kinds of projects do you take on?
My work often includes growth strategy, website development, marketing systems, and some branding. I also serve as a fractional CMO for select clients who want ongoing strategic support to continue to build upon success.
When it comes to websites, most clients prefer Squarespace or Kajabi so they can easily edit and manage content without needing a developer. I also help connect essential tools to ensure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.
A typical web project includes:
Purchasing relevant domains
Setting up your site with your own copy and images
Configuring email service through your domain (so newsletters and invoices arrive reliably)
Connecting your site to key marketing tools (SEO/AIO, Google analytics, and your business listings on Bing and Google Search Console)
Optimizing for search visibility and mobile responsiveness
Adding helpful integrations like contact forms, pop-ups, and review links for social proof
Whether you’re launching something new or refining what you already have, my goal is to leave you with a functional, professional, and easy-to-manage system that supports your long-term growth.
How long does it take to build a website?
It takes about 30 hours to build a proper website and connect everything. My approach is 4 weeks of building with 2 additional weeks of refinement after launch.
After that, clients have the option to book hourly meetings as needed or a select a monthly retainer for additional help. Anyone can build a website, it just takes time and a lot of practice.
Do you charge a monthly hosting fee for websites?
I do not charge a monthly “hosting fee” post launch but most developers or marketing firms will (especially with Wordpress) because widgets constantly need updating.
Squarespace rarely needs that so I only charge for the work I do when it comes up.
How far in advance should I reach out?
Most projects are booked out 2–4 weeks in advance. Current retainer clients always have priority access, but I try to accommodate new projects whenever possible.
Do you offer one-time consultations?
Yes. I offer complimentary 15-minute Office Hour meetings for quick questions or 30–60 minute paid strategy sessions for more in-depth needs.
What’s your approach to marketing?
Personally? I don’t really have time to market myself. In the industry we joke that “the cobbler’s son has no shoes” but 100% of my clients come from referrals.
Professionally, I always advocate having a strategy that feels natural rather than noisy. I mostly post on LinkedIn and send old school post cards. My focus is on reclaiming LinkedIn as a space for building genuine connection over time.
Do you write guest blogs?
Yes! I love uplifting folks in my blog but have also been featured in Sarah Johnston’s “Curated Career Conversations” on www.briefcasecoach.com.
TLDR, I share how individuals can treat their personal brand like a startup product, emphasizing a clear value proposition (what you do well and what you want to do) and then aligning that with what your audience or prospective employer needs.
Identify and engage with your target audience to increase visibility. Despite what some may say, your personal brand doesn’t have to be flashy and in some industries it will be difficult to stand out. Keep it authentic and aligned with how you behave in real-life. Post consistently and remember your comments show up on your network’s feed too.
Don’t forget to mentor others when you can and network with real, genuine connections in-person. If you don’t know what to post about, start with celebrating others’ success. You don’t have to shrink yourself for others’ comfort. Sharing a clear list of your accomplishments isn’t bragging. It’s positioning.
If you’re looking for some guest content, reach out! I love sharing my insights on growth, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
Where are you really from?
I consider myself thoroughly Midwestern. I was born in southern Missouri and returned to the state for university and grad school. My teen years were spent in Illinois where my parents grew up and my siblings went to college. I’ve lived in Colorado since 2015.
No. Free. Work.
As a working parent, I have a strict NO FREE WORK policy.
I don’t ask friends for free work and hope my friends don’t ask me either.
To respect everyone’s time, please book a zero-risk 15 minute call to “pick my brain,” 45 minutes to scope out PAID work, or a consultation call as needed.