Ashley Cotres

I attribute my success to my work ethic and discipline. Whether it's in my professional life or personal life, I believe in showing up and giving my best every single day. That means waking up in the morning, getting ready, going to the gym, and on my days off, getting up and doing my chores - it's that consistent ethic and discipline to keep going every day that has really driven my success. I've also been willing to learn and grow into new roles, especially as I transitioned from operations into marketing, which required me to step outside my comfort zone and develop new skills. My ability to adapt and my commitment to always giving something my all has allowed me to accomplish things I might not have thought possible, like successfully moving into marketing without a traditional marketing background.

Ashley credits her CMO, Marinella Means, as a key mentor who inspired and guided her transition into marketing operations and helped shape her professional growth.

Don't doubt yourself. You're capable of a lot more than you think, as long as you truly give something your all. I've learned through my own experience, especially transitioning into marketing without a traditional background, that you can accomplish so much more than you might believe possible when you commit fully and don't let self-doubt hold you back.

One of the biggest challenges in marketing compared to operations is the uncertainty. Operations is more like a numbers game - you know if you do this, this is going to be the outcome. With marketing, you don't know. You don't know what's going to hit, what's going to miss, if that collaboration is really going to land sometimes. That unpredictability can be a struggle. But on the opportunity side, I think we're in a time that's changing and evolving, and there's room for everyone to learn new skills, especially with the new era of technology and AI and social media and everything that's coming up. It really just opens up opportunity for whoever puts in the effort to learn and adapt to these new tools.

Work ethic is the most important value to me, both professionally and personally. I believe in maintaining discipline and consistency in everything I do. That means waking up in the morning, getting ready, going to the gym, and on my days off, getting up and doing my chores - it's that daily discipline and ethics to keep going that drives me. I apply this same principle to my work life, showing up every day ready to give my best effort. Outside of work, I value spending time with my family and enjoying activities like fishing, especially boat fishing in the Florida Keys where I grew up. Those moments on the water help me recharge, but even in my personal time, I maintain that same sense of responsibility and commitment to making the most of every day.