Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Anderson.
Ashley, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 2011, shortly after graduating college at Prairie View A&M University with a Business Management and Entrepreneurship degree I realized that my expectations were definitely too high. I couldn’t find a job, had to move out my apartment and back into my mothers’ house, not to mention I realized exactly how broke I was. Like really broke, I couldn’t afford to do anything outside going to my retail job and trying to find a job in my field. I eventually decided to go back to school for my MBA in Accounting hoping this would break the seal of getting me started in my career path. After a year, I started working as a Bank Teller. A year after that, I moved into a Risk Analyst position, thinking I’m getting closer to building the career I thought would come with a degree.
And in 2015, I had finally landed a position as an Accountant. Things were going great, for the first time I actually had money in my savings accounts! I was even able to purchase a home. The company I worked for was the headquarters and number one company for men’s tailed suits and clothing. Which worked great with my retail experience, working with men styling. During this time, I ended up going to New Orleans for Essence Fest and hanging out with a good friend of mine, Irvin Randle. He had a little buzz around this time as his photos had just gone viral. During this time in NOLA, I told him that I can make you famous. He wasn’t sure but trusted me anyway as I talked up my networking skills.
When I tell you that I made things happen that weekend, I literally jump-started his career. I walked right up to the execs at Essence and told them that I was management for Irvin and that I wanted him to have a segment, they recognized his face and the rest was history. We went from being spectators in the crowd to booked interviews and competing for photo shoots and booking events. It seemed everything was finally going right! I had my career intact and was able to jump into entertainment management. Since this was what I had put all the years and work into college for I thought my life was finally going to be made, or so I thought. After a couple months of working with Irvin, I pretty much got dropped as he signed under management with his daughters’ husband company. My first major contract I was working on for the Essence Fest South Africa was also dropped around that time. I was about two years on my job around this time, and the company went through a reorganization, I ended up getting laid off the position I know I worked my butt off to get to. I felt betrayed. I was furious. I couldn’t believe all of this was happening to me. The reality of what I was expecting my life to be was not happening as planned or as I wanted. How could everything be going wrong?
After going into a slight mini-depression, I knew I had to find another job. I started to think about what really makes me happen, where I need to be career-wise and what I need to do to, pretty much an entire self-evaluation. All I knew was one thing, that I did not want to be tied down to another cubicle. I found a mentor for Public Relations and Management, learned about the industry and how to protect myself from and my brand. During this time, I also decided to do research on and open an online shoe store. I started going to women conventions and business was pretty good for a small startup. After technically being unemployed for four months, I landed a job consulting and training accounting computer software. I never knew there were positions out there that paid you to travel across the country to train people how to use computers. Similar to someone switching from an Android to an iPhone, and having someone come to teach them how to do all the same things they knew how to do with their old the Android with a new iPhone.
After all the mishaps that I experienced a few years ago, I learned that it’s best to move at my own manageable pace with my businesses. I see people on Instagram selling packages on how to start a business trying to make entrepreneurship look easy. But truth is that it is everything but easy. Save your money, put in the work, but most of all stay consistent and you will reach your goals.
Where am I today? I picked up a couple new hobbies in international travel and fitness and philanthropy. I am currently raising money for the ALS Association and in February, I along with 30 friends are going to Havana, Cuba to donate school supplies and toys to a local school. I am currently managing a writer, pitching his short film to a couple of producers. I am looking for new clients to manage. I haven’t grown my shoe store into anything major yet, but business has been consistent over the past two years and I’m okay with that for now. I also started a men’s fashion, fitness, lifestyle, and health site. While we are still working out kinks on the website we are currently looking for male bloggers and writers. As for my career? Once I hit two years of experience in software consulting, I started to get calls and emails from headhunters asking me to apply to Project Management and Program Management positions that are all remote positions, with some travel, where I make my own schedule so that I can continue my businesses and are well into the 6 figures. I am currently interviewing for six positions and should have offers in mid-February. At this moment, I can not complain. I feel that I am in control of my life and lifestyle.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Of course, it has not been a smooth road. Some struggles I’ve been through has been through include my expectations after college and trying to find a career. Getting laid off after finding this job. Running into a period of depression after feeling like a failure. Trying to be an entrepreneur and not having the success that Instagram shows should be easily attainable. Save your money, put in the work, but most of all stay consistent and you will reach your goals on your time frame.
Never give up on yourself. Things will not always turn out as you planned or pictured, and when it does adjust your path continue trailblazing. As I recently read, “No flower blooms all year long”.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I currently work in consulting and training accounting computer software. I never knew there were positions out there that paid you to travel across the country to train people how to use computers. Similar to someone switching from an Android to an iPhone, and having someone come to teach them how to do all the same things they knew how to do with their old the Android with a new iPhone. When people ask me what do I do, I tell them that I train people on how to run their business on my company software. As unique as my job is, I love the fact that even after I tell someone what I do, they are still confused as to what I do. Lol!
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Find a mentor to learn study under because you are in control of your life and have the ability to create a new path whenever you deem necessary.
I believe that if I would have had a mentor before graduating college to set accurate expectations of life’s ups and downs, I probably wouldn’t have made some of the mistakes I’ve made.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @AshleySoUnique
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