We recently connected with Ashley Storman and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ashley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Any advice for creating a more inclusive workplace?

In my 15 years of experience in higher education, I’ve been deeply committed to advocating for students, faculty, and staff from oppressed backgrounds. One pivotal experience that significantly shaped my perspective on creating inclusive workplaces occurred when a colleague and I collaborated to address racist and inequitable experiences reported by underrepresented students. In this instance, we took a proactive approach by collecting and analyzing data to identify specific needs and address equity gaps, particularly for Black, Latinx, and Muslim populations. Recognizing that inclusivity should be embedded in the fabric of an organization, we emphasized the importance of creating a more inclusive classroom environment. Crucially, our efforts extended beyond identification to tangible actions where we implemented targeted strategies and created the Physical Therapy Intensive Summer Program to enhance the retention of students of color. The impact was profound — for the first time in a decade, we successfully retained all underrepresented students into their fourth year of the program.

This experience accents the transformative power of intentional, data-driven inclusivity initiatives. It highlighted the importance of starting from the top of the department/organization, with the executive team taking a lead role. Those in power and who impact culture must proactively engage in understanding their own biases, articulate the significance of inclusion for the organization, and foster a culture of transparency and accountability. Unfortunately, diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are sometimes relegated to the middle, where resources and influence may be lacking. By beginning at the top, leadership can model inclusive behavior, making a lasting impact on both the organizational culture and business outcomes.

Witnessing the positive outcomes of our efforts, I became even more convinced of the pivotal role leadership plays in creating inclusive environments. Using data to share narrative experiences, providing actionable recommendations, and being part of the positive change has reinforced my commitment to championing inclusivity in the workplace. It’s not just about statistics; it’s about real, tangible improvements in the experiences of your employees, fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.

Ashley , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Dr. Ashley Storman (she/her), and I am the Owner and Educational Consultant of The Storman Group LLC. As a Christian, Mom, Wife, and dedicated Educator, I have spent over 15 years advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in various sectors, including higher education, non-profit organizations, and human resources. During my tenure as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion, I took initiative to address retention issues in different departments by leveraging my expertise in consulting and utilizing data-driven approaches. Even after transitioning to human resources, my passion for contributing academically persisted. I continued conducting research and using data to develop strategies aimed at enhancing experiences through inclusion. This commitment, coupled with my desire to make a broader impact, led to the establishment of The Storman Group LLC.
At The Storman Group, LLC., our mission is to elevate work cultures by creating inclusive and welcoming environments that contribute to employee satisfaction and retention. Our services encompass a range of offerings, including DEI consulting, workshops and training, group facilitation and dialogue, programmatic framework and curriculum development, and keynote speaking.
While our roots are in St. Louis, we are excited to share that our consulting services now extend to non-profit organizations in New Jersey and New York, and we look forward to expanding our reach even further.
As the Founder, I am deeply passionate about DEI and take pride in providing customized strategies and services. Through thought leadership and authenticity, I offer roadmaps and milestones that organizations can implement beyond our engagement to ensure a sustained commitment to inclusivity in the workplace. I invite potential clients, future partners, and friends of The Storman Group LLC. to join us in this journey towards fostering diverse, equitable, and inclusive work cultures.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One story from my journey that underscores my resilience is rooted in my teenage years. I discovered my love for basketball in middle school and, as a freshman, found myself playing with the varsity team. Despite the excitement of being on the varsity team, our track record for winning games was less than stellar. However, my love for the sport kept me committed. I attended every practice, participated in summer leagues, and maintained my focus on playing at the collegiate level. Although I didn’t end up playing basketball in college, the experience instilled in me a profound sense of resilience. It taught me the importance of unwavering dedication to my passions, the value of hard work, and the mindset of never giving up. The lessons from those basketball days have been instrumental in shaping my journey. I carried that resilience into achieving significant milestones, including earning my doctorate degree as a first generation student, getting published, and editing books that focus on the lived experiences of black women. Today, as a proud Black woman entrepreneur impacting the community, I attribute much of my success to the resilience cultivated at a young age—lessons that continue to drive me to see every endeavor through to the end.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

My reputation within the market has been built on my unwavering passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) coupled with a commitment to turning that passion into actionable change. I consider myself a visionary and a doer; impatience with the status quo drives me to swiftly address areas that need improvement. In a world where talk often outweighs action, I place immense value on efficiency and getting things done. During my extensive tenure in higher education, I consistently sought opportunities for improvement. Once I understood my role, I was motivated to enhance various aspects, whether it was increasing engagement, tripling participation rates, implementing equitable practices in scholarship experiences, or using narrative experiences to provide actionable strategies and recommendations to faculty.
My reputation as a disrupter, change agent, and someone who values transparency and accountability for results stems from my approach of combining research, narrative experiences, and data analysis to tell a compelling story. I believe in translating insights into tangible actions that bring about real change. This approach has resonated within the market, establishing me as someone who not only talks about improvement but actively drives it forward. My commitment to being a catalyst for change has been a defining factor in shaping my reputation as someone who not only envisions a better future but works tirelessly to make it a reality.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thestormangroupllc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_storman_group_llc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087269511397
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/89705058/admin/feed/posts/

Image Credits
A.E. Photography LLC email: aeelite@gmail.com, Social media: https://www.instagram.com/ae_elite_photography_llc/ , Gabrielle Davis