Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Stahl.
Ashley, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started my career like so many people do, in college and not really knowing what to do with my life… So when asked to pick a major, I opted for my interests: government, history and French… I just didn’t know how they’d look in a career but followed what felt interesting… I think many of us feel this pressure early in our 20s to commit to a career path, despite not really knowing ourselves, or the workforce. After all, clarity comes from engagement, not thought, and at that point, I hadn’t a really engaged in my career because I was just a 20 something who hadn’t yet really had one.
I ended up living abroad in France during college, and that time was really profound for me in committing to a path and deciding to serve in the government… I had some family members who were affected by 9/11, so that also solidified my interest in working in counterterrorism… From that point on, I did everything I could to really stand out: I got the degree, I learned the foreign languages (you name it!), and when I came back to Los Angeles (which is home for me), I applied and I applied and applied for jobs –and I got crickets in response, so eventually I thought I had to take what I could get and I took a job as an admin assistant making barely minimum wage.
I ended up feeling so much pain in this job, wondering if this was my new normal– minimum wage, not using my skills, etc– and wondered if this was working what my life was going to be. That pain really motivated me to call my university and ask for a list of alumni who graduated and moved to DC. It turned out there was about 2000 alumni from my colleges who had moved to DC, so I started working my way through the phone list on my lunch breaks, networking with people, and asking them if they could help me in my job search in DC. As you can imagine, a lot of people hung up the phone, but there were a few kind people who really went out of their way to help me and give me the confidence to move to Washington, DC.
I quit my job and moved to DC, and when I got there, I ended up job hunting really intensely and landing three offers in six weeks, tripling my salary, going from being an admin assistant Los Angeles to an executive position for the Pentagon. That was one of the most profound life changes I’ve ever made, and it taught me that your career and your life can change in one decision. On the weekend’s people started asking me to help them with their job hunt and I started helping them with their resumes, their salary negotiations, their networking skills, etc., and that ended up translating into really big results for people, which eventually inspired me to start my career coaching practice.
Now, years later, I have a very full private coaching practice where I help people land job offers, find their purpose, start businesses, and build confidence. I also help with how to best manage their team and their businesses. It’s been really inspiring! I also have courses on the Internet, a podcast (You Turn Podcast) and a book coming out in September 2020 (Hay House), which I’m really proud of and hoping to turn that into a film on the journey I went through in my 20s of leaving counterterrorism and finding myself.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not at all! Starting a business and expressing yourself in the world is a vulnerable path. It’s required me to invest a lot in mentorship and reading.
Ashley International – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I’m a career coach! My courses help people land a new job, find their best career fit, or start a side hustle. My book is all about helping people use my journey as a tool to unlock their own best career fit. My podcast is all about confidence: how to have unshakeable confidence, be it in work, love or in general. I have inspiring guest experts on every single week! I’m different because there were no coaches when I started my business, which meant I needed to create my own voice and content and chart my own path without inspiration from other influencers. I’m proud of having content that is so unique to my heart.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Time freedom, financial ease, and self-expression.
Pricing:
- My Job Offer Academy course is $197
- My Career Clarity Lab course is $127
- My Business Launch course is $297
- Private coaching with me starts at $3500
- My speaking fees range $7500- 15,000
Contact Info:
- Address: 2655 First Street #250
Simi Valley CA 93065 - Website: ashleystahl.com
- Phone: 8189173857
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @ashleystahl
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleystahlcoaching/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ashleystahl?lang=en
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMiSf7LpFQE&t=2s
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
