Ashley Reed

I feel like my support system has been crucial to my success. My family was always very supportive in everything that I wanted to achieve. My current boss and supervisor has been very much a mentor for me, especially when I got into my leadership role. And a lot of amazing women from the ATLIS community have been instrumental. I feel like they're people that saw my potential and believed in me, and they helped me build that confidence. So my family, my current boss, and some women at ATLIS have all contributed to where I am today.

The best career advice I've ever received is to lead with integrity. Know what your values are, what you stand for, and then make sure you show up that way every single day. Be clear with your expectations with the group of people that you oversee, because I think when you build those relationships and there's transparency, and you demonstrate vulnerability, just showing that you're human, it makes a huge difference. Be human with those that you oversee and really have a true relationship with them. I think that goes a long way and helps build people up to be able to make changes, and they can see that you're there for them as a human being and not just a worker for them.

I would say to dream big and keep working towards your goals. If someone is not believing in you where you're at, go somewhere else. Someone, somewhere will see that potential in you and help make sure you get there. Don't limit your potential if you're not feeling supported in what your dreams and goals are. Someone else, somewhere, will see that potential in you and help you achieve it.

I would say AI and the change of technology at the speed that it is right now is one of the biggest challenges and opportunities. Staying on top of everything that comes out is crucial. As a leader for a school, I have to constantly check compliances and make sure student data is used appropriately, so just making sure I'm staying on track of all that. But then also teaching the teachers and faculty about these technology tools and the positives of them, but also the negatives, not to scare people, just to make sure that they are safe and they're not putting anything out there that isn't what they wouldn't want to share with the whole world.

My values include having accountability, being grateful (gratitude), being open-minded (which means being curious about why certain things come up or why certain people make a decision based on that, or why they may act a certain way, putting myself into their shoes instead of creating stories for myself), honesty, and integrity.