Ashley Everett
Ashley Everett is a seasoned strategist and change leader based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with over 23 years of experience in public service at Hennepin County. She currently serves as Senior Department Administrator in Human Services, overseeing a wide array of operations that span frontline service delivery across five human service centers, project management, training and development, staffing and payroll for both Human Services and Public Health, and work environments across 18 buildings. Known for her ability to integrate organizational strategy with day-to-day operations, Ashley leads initiatives that enhance both the resident and employee experience while ensuring fiscal responsibility and operational efficiency.
Throughout her career, Ashley has demonstrated expertise in organizational strategy, operational design, and business model innovation. She has led significant transformational change initiatives, including reimagining leadership structures to align with resident outcomes, implementing digital solutions to improve accessibility, and facilitating cross-departmental collaboration to strengthen organizational performance. Her approach emphasizes authenticity, integrity, and inclusivity, while balancing decisiveness with the ability to navigate complex and ambiguous situations. Ashley is recognized for her skill in influencing others without direct authority and for bringing structure and clarity to fast-moving, organization-wide challenges.
Ashley’s success is attributed to her tenacity and willingness to address difficult issues directly, fostering open communication and finding common ground to move initiatives forward. She holds a Master’s degree in Management, Strategy, and Leadership from Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business and has completed certifications in change management and facilitation. Passionate about innovation and social impact, she thrives on seeing meaningful improvements in resident service delivery, organizational culture, and employee engagement, believing that effective leadership is about creating practical, sustainable solutions that benefit both the community and the teams she leads.
• Certified TOP Facilitator
• Certificate in Project Management
• Certified Change Manager
• Change Practitioner
• Michigan State University (Eli Broad College of Business) - M.S.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to tenacity. People ask me about being a strong woman, and yes, I am, but I have tenacity. Part of it goes back to my goal of finding the common yes. I think there aren't as many people that do that, so for me, having tenacity means saying, okay, I hear you, how can we get there? I'm also not afraid to ask the hard questions - I've been told that by a lot of people. I bring up the elephant in the room every time. I used to come to meetings with an elephant and put it on the table when I needed to let everybody know that there's an elephant in the room and someone's got to talk about it. In my current role, I don't do that anymore, but that willingness to address what others won't is what has helped me succeed.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is that there is always a common yes. Find a way to work with people, meet them where they are, and listen. You'll find a common yes. We spend a lot of time going back and forth, but there's always going to be a common ground. If you approach every situation trying to find common ground, you'll find one. If you approach every situation knowing you're against each other, you'll never come together. It's actually kind of simple - there are times where yes, you might be right, but if you find the common yes, you'll move forward faster.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities I see in my field is the ability to implement simple yet transformative innovations within a large bureaucracy. By leveraging digital solutions and rethinking business models, I aim to enhance access and improve the experience for residents. At the same time, a key challenge is coordinating effectively across multiple sites and stakeholders while navigating the complexities of a unionized HR and labor relations environment.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
What matters most to me is staying connected to my community and seeing the tangible impact of my work. I’m motivated by opportunities to drive meaningful change—even within large bureaucracies—through innovations that improve outcomes for residents. Outside of work, I love traveling with my family to explore new places, watching my children play competitive sports, enjoying professional sports, and spending time outdoors to recharge and stay active.