Ashley Mays, MBA
Ashley Mays, MBA, is a Presidential Management Fellow (PMF) Finalist and federal leader with the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She brings a strong foundation in public service and leadership, having spent eight years in military service as a Preventive Medicine Specialist, where she developed discipline, resilience, and a commitment to mission-driven work. After completing her MBA at the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School in May 2024, she was selected for the highly competitive Presidential Management Fellowship program, an honor extended to only a small fraction of applicants from tens of thousands nationwide. She was notified in February 2024 that she advanced as a finalist, marking a pivotal milestone in her career in federal leadership.
Following her fellowship experience, Ashley transitioned into a permanent role at the National Institute on Aging in 2025, where her work centers on workforce strategy, change management, leadership readiness, and employee engagement. She plays a key role in addressing evolving federal workforce challenges, including return-to-office initiatives and organizational change, with an emphasis on maintaining morale, accountability, and operational effectiveness. In her role, she partners closely with leadership to ensure priorities and deadlines are met, while also serving as a liaison between her institute and human resources. She supports culture-building initiatives such as retreats, garden parties, and engagement events designed to strengthen connection and collaboration across teams.
Ashley is currently a PhD student in Global Leadership at Indiana University, further deepening her expertise in organizational development and strategic leadership. Her long-term goal is to establish a nonprofit dedicated to helping parents live with intention, discover purpose, and access meaningful resources to support their families and communities. A disabled veteran and single mother of three soon to be married and gaining two bonus stepsons she earned her MBA while balancing family responsibilities and managing personal health challenges. These experiences have reinforced her belief that strategic, intentional decision-making can transform limitations into strength, and she is committed to using her journey to inspire and empower others.
• University of Rochester May 2022 Excel Seminar
• Wayland Baptist University - BASc, Business Administration and Management, General
• University of Rochester - Simon Business School - MBA
• Presidential Management Fellowship Finalist 2024
• Featured in Influential Women Network 2026 Edition
• Consortium for Graduate Study in Management
• Habitat for Humanity
• Women's Shelter Volunteer
• Second Chance
What do you attribute your success to?
I've hinted on this throughout our conversation, but it really comes down to being intentional. When an opportunity or things come up, I do a true evaluation and make sure that it aligns with my work-life harmony and my personal balance. I ask myself, what's the outcome, what's the goal, and is the work I'm doing intentional to that? Every opportunity must align with who I am and what I want to achieve. That intentionality has been the key factor to my success over the years.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I received, which I heard so much during graduate school, was about the importance of strengthening my network. At first, when I heard it, I was unsure and it didn't make sense to me. But the more I understood it, the more it resonated. Your network will speak to your brand. People will speak on you and sponsor you when you're not in the room, vouching for who you are and the work that you do. That's why I place such strong emphasis on building and maintaining my network.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You're going to hear me say intentional until I'm blue in the face, but being intentional about how you position your work and your impact is so important. Clearly articulate not just what you do, but how your work contributes to the broader organizational goals. I also encourage other women to step into roles that influence strategy and decision making, not just execution, because we're very good at execution. We can run our households and succeed in our careers. So step into those stretch roles, the ones that sometimes you may be unsure about, but know that you can do it. Take on those challenges that push you beyond just executing tasks and into shaping the bigger picture.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The value that's most important to me is making a positive impact on others. When I'm doing something that I truly enjoy and I know it's going to be a positive impact to others, it keeps me going. It keeps me wanting to continue and do more of the work. I also live by the golden rule in everything I do. Intentionality is another core value for me. I make sure that every opportunity aligns with my work-life harmony and my personal balance, and I always ask myself what the outcome or goal is, and whether the work I'm doing is intentional to that purpose. My ultimate mission is to create more equitable and inclusive environments for others, which drives everything I do professionally and personally.