Her Story
About Ashley
Ashley Daniels serves as Communications Manager for the Autism Society of Minnesota, where she began in March 2026. In this role, she handles graphic design, manages social media, and creates communications that raise awareness about autism spectrum disorder, a cause that is deeply personal as she is autistic herself. Prior to entering communications, Daniels worked in education, teaching high school English and serving as Youth Programs Manager for the Coren Organization of Minnesota. There, she built programs for social-emotional learning, individualized coaching and mentoring, and workforce and career readiness for refugee youth, while also supervising staff implementation in schools. She earned her Master of Arts in Education from Hamline University in December 2022 and her Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the same institution in 2015. In 2024, Daniels was selected to present at the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteers Advancement Leadership Summit, where her session on disability accommodations received the highest rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars. Outside her professional work, she is in her fifth season as assistant coach for a cross-country team and created the Miles Make Memories initiative to celebrate team moments through photography and graphic design.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ashley
01What do you attribute your success to?
It takes a village. My therapy team, medical team including electrophysiologist, neurologist, OBGYN, primary care doctor, running club, coaches, friends, and dad have given me the skills and strength to keep going. Resilience and determination from running help during tough times.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be. Take more pictures and allow more outtakes than you think you'll need because one additional click could make all the difference. Allow yourself to be a beginner and not expect perfection.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be patient with yourself. Life is a process and you figure things out as you go. Allow yourself to be a beginner, not be good at things right away, and give yourself the patience, grace, and kindness you deserve. There's beauty in figuring things out as you go.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges include systemic barriers for disabled people in workplaces and generative AI threatening communications work. Opportunities lie in more human connection, authentic storytelling, and emotional investment rather than AI-generated content.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Work-life balance is key, allowing engagement with fitness while meeting work deadlines. Firm boundaries are important, such as not having work email or Zoom on my phone so I can separate work from personal life completely.
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