Ashley Hass, Ph.D.

I attribute my success to a strong family foundation that has shaped my values, resilience, and outlook on life. My mother’s strength and tenacity, along with my late father’s joyful spirit, who passed away from COVID-19 in 2020, instilled in me a drive to strive for excellence while also appreciating life’s moments. Their partnership created a supportive environment that encouraged ambition, curiosity, and a love of travel and experience. I am also inspired by my younger sister, who recently earned her PhD, and I value the opportunity to share both personal and academic milestones with her.

The best career advice I’ve received came from my high school coach, George Bricklemaire, who told me when switching careers, “you can always go back if you want,” when I decided to step away from coaching. That perspective gave me the confidence to explore new paths without feeling like I was closing doors. Later, during my time at St. Mary’s in San Antonio, professors Jeremy Grace and Hugh Stevens encouraged me to recognize my worth and reminded me, “you can have better,” while I was navigating a difficult work environment. The most transformative advice, however, came from another professor who urged me to leave a toxic situation entirely and quit my current role. Although it was unexpected, choosing to step away ultimately changed the trajectory of my career and allowed me to build the life and opportunities I have today. It takes a village and I am grateful for mine.

My advice to young women entering my field is to be clear about your values and define what work-life balance looks like for you early on. Marketing offers very different environments, from large companies like Nike and Adidas to fast-paced startups, but each comes with different demands, and it’s important to choose what truly fits your capacity and goals to avoid burnout. Pay attention to early warning signs when something feels misaligned, trust your instincts, and set boundaries that protect your well-being. Ultimately, building a sustainable career that aligns with your values is more important than moving quickly or saying yes to everything. Also, never listen to when people say you can't do something. I've had several people in my life, from middle and high school teachers, to people with PhDs I would never be successful with my standarized test scores, or I wasn't good enough to play volleyball. Jokes on all of them because I played in college at a top ranked team in the Florida JUCO scene, and now have my dream job. You can do ANYTHING you put your mind to and everyone has strengths and weaknesses. The GMAT was my weakness, and I am still extremely intelligent.

The biggest challenge in my field is the oversaturation of brands competing for attention within systems largely driven by financial goals, which can make it difficult to prioritize meaningful, balanced work. At the same time, the rapid rise of AI and the ongoing impact of social media are forcing the industry to confront important ethical questions and learn from past “move fast and break things” approaches, especially the ones the tech companies have used histporically. For young professionals, I encourage staying aware of misalignment in your work, trusting your instincts, and being willing to speak up when something doesn’t feel right. Listen to those whispers.

Empowerment and rest are the values most important to me in both my work and personal life. I’m passionate about helping people recognize their agency and believe in their ability to shape the lives they want, rather than operating on autopilot or getting caught in constant busyness. Just as important is the value of rest - slowing down, being intentional, and creating space to step back from systems and demands that can easily consume us. After experiencing the effects of overworking myself, I’ve learned that sustainable success depends on balance, including making room for both digital and offline life, so we can truly live in alignment with what matters most to us.