More About Working With Ashley
Professional Philosophy
L&D should not provide training to just check a box or blindly dole out formal training because it was requested. If we are doing it right, we are creating meaningful experiences that help people solve real problems, bring excellence to their role, and inspire them to seek out additional opportunities to learn and grow. L&D must be approached as a business, not an afterthought—where initiatives are planned that have a direct link back to organizational level strategic goals and move the needle toward achieving key business outcomes. AND in these times of rapid change and ever advancing AI, we carry a responsibility to ensure human connection and experience is interwoven throughout every initiative and program because at it's core, L&D has been and always will be about supporting the people doing the work in the actual environments in which they are performing each day.
I'm passionate about elevating the role of L&D across the organization to become a trusted partner and advisor to the business, tackling complex organizational challenges, and designing impactful and creative solutions. To accomplish this, I take a holistic approach to understand business goals, performance drivers, and culture to identify the unique and evolving learning needs of an organization.
I love the opportunities that new and emerging technology provides in the space of driving performance and supporting change. There are fabulous new tools and experiences that are amazing when applied to the right situation, but just because it's new doesn't mean it's the right time or will produce the desired results. To create balance, I lead with curiosity and visualize grand possibilities, while remaining rooted in the readiness, capability, and capacity of the specific team or organization to successfully implement and sustain a plan.
On Leadership
Being personally successful is great, but helping others to achieve success and growth in their personal and professional life is a whole different level of awesome.
I seek out people and spaces where curiosity, authenticity, and integrity is valued. Where people are free to ask questions and speak what's on their minds to help solve difficult challenges, dream up new possibilities, come to shared understanding, create, learn, and grow. Whether I'm leading a team or serving as a consultant, it's my role to develop trust and empower those around me to do their best work. No team or goal is the same, so adaptability is key. This means flexing between directing the path ahead, removing obstacles, bringing new people together to shift thinking and perspective, coaching, and working side-by-side to GSD.
To do this successfully, I take the necessary time to listen and truly hear people, dig under the surface to really see what is going on, acknowledge where you are in this moment (not the idealized version), and come to the table with a perspective based on the bigger picture.
When moving forward, driving clarity and alignment with the people directly impacted by change and opportunities for growth is the focus. Then as the road unfolds, remaining honest, transparent, and flexible help me ensure that teams stay engaged, motivated, and ready to tackle whatever comes next.