We were lucky to catch up with Alisha Ashford recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alisha, thanks for joining us today. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry?

In the realm of Corporate America, there’s this widespread assumption that both the entity and its employees are operating on this high level of cultural integrity. You’ll often find explicit clauses in mission statements, visions, or core values, shouting about how diversity, equity, and inclusion are non-negotiable parts of their commitment to customers, associates, and business practices. But, here’s where it gets interesting – these corporations, despite the big talk, often fall short when it comes to fully owning up to the responsibility of training and developing their staff. As a result, the day-to-day work environment and business dealings don’t always reflect the proclaimed cultural responsiveness and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. From my own experience navigating the corporate landscape and contributing to the education of the future workforce, I firmly believe that DEI and cultural responsiveness shouldn’t be confined to the realms of K-12 and higher education institutions. It’s a moral imperative that these teaching philosophies continue to play a role in the ongoing career development of working professionals.
Let me take you back to my early days as a programmer analyst for a top mental health insurance giant right after finishing undergrad. Picture this – I was the youngest programmer on my team, one of only two African American associates, and part of a very small female subgroup. The majority of my team comprised White men, with a small percentage from a South Asian ethnic group. Navigating through verbal, nonverbal, and written communication presented its challenges due to differences in age, ethnicity, caste systems, and learning styles. Despite our best efforts, there was little to no consideration given to strengthening our team’s professional practice through cultural responsiveness training. Quite a head-scratcher, isn’t it?

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Alisha Ashford and I am an educator, STEM professional, and owner of Sapient Consulting Services LLC (SCS), in St. Louis, Missouri. Sapient Consulting Services LLC, a WBENC certified woman and minority-owned consulting firm, specializes in professional development and training. We offer high-quality educational support services to K-12 schools, government agencies, corporations, and community organizations, with a strong focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education. We prioritize the inclusion of a Culturally Responsive Teaching approach to make STEM accessible and meaningful for everyone, irrespective of their culture, background, and ability. In addition, we provide educational support services in critical areas to enhance our clients’ business operations and foster a thriving organizational culture.

Let’s delve into the backstory. While my passion lies in the exciting world of STEM, becoming a professional in technology wasn’t initially on my radar. It all started when the Dean of the School of Computer Management Information Systems (CMIS) and my entry-level CMIS professor shook my confidence. They claimed I lacked the grit and attention to detail essential for a STEM career. Now, I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt, maybe it was a rough morning – no coffee, navigating morning traffic – but their lack of confidence in my abilities became a driving force. What they didn’t realize was that my struggles were more about equitable access to technology rather than my inherent ability.
As time passed, I discovered that this biased opinion was more widespread among educators. Many believed students couldn’t handle the cognitive demands of STEM or lacked confidence in teaching it effectively.
Fast forward to my role as an educator, where I found immense joy in providing students with opportunities to think critically and solve real-world problems through STEM. I took a cross-curricular approach, integrating STEM into language arts and social studies. For instance, I combined engineering with literature through Novel Engineering, solving problems from storybooks. Even my kindergarten students were building simple Lego cars to demonstrate science concepts like pushes and pulls.
Taking on an extra duty contract as an after-school math instructional leader, I blended Maker Space with math, allowing students to visually represent multiplication, arrays, and 3-digit subtraction with borrowing. My confidence in teaching STEM, regardless of students’ backgrounds, led to their thriving in STEM education.
After receiving recognition from the Missouri House of Representatives for my commitment to community education, I felt the need to make a broader impact nationally. That’s when Sapient Consulting Services LLC was born.
At SCS, our commitment to STEM education is unyielding. We go beyond by infusing a Culturally Responsive Teaching lens into our services, ensuring that STEM is not only accessible but meaningful to all stakeholders. Partnering with government agencies, school districts, businesses, and community organizations, we aim to elevate educational programs, foster inclusivity and innovation, and pave the way for equitable educational futures. Our signature CAP framework ensures our programs increase Confidence, Accessibility, and Practicality for our clients and their stakeholders.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the significant lessons on my path has been unraveling the understanding that what I do daily, particularly in fostering transformational learning through cultural responsiveness, isn’t a one-size-fits-all product or service. My sweet spot, my ideal clientele, comprises those who share a profound commitment to transformation through cultural diversity and integrity. In the realm of education, there’s a concerning trend. We’re witnessing schools and districts opting out of their inherent responsibilities to ensure that all student populations feel a sense of belonging and connectedness. It ranges from the removal of African American studies to discontinuing pedagogical frameworks like Restorative Practices or Culturally Relevant Teaching. Essentially, these institutions are conveying that their commitment to education has its limitations, favoring a particular subgroup above all others.
Through experience, I’ve come to realize that collaborating with agencies and institutions deeply committed to this work is where we witness more positive change. These are the entities with the best intentions for enhancing their organizational performance. It’s about finding partners who truly believe in fostering inclusivity and diversity, rather than just ticking boxes on a checklist.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

We’ve carved our niche in what we call a Blue Ocean, navigating the educational consulting landscape alongside some dynamic and larger firms. What makes us stand out is our unwavering commitment to STEM and our approach rooted in cultural responsiveness, delivered by educators who genuinely represent the very groups we are dedicated to. Our consultants bring a wealth of experience as former classroom teachers and industry professionals, earning accolades for our professional and results-driven achievements. Every day, we are deeply engaged in this significant work. Now, our marketing budget might not be as grand as some of our larger competitors, but that doesn’t stop us from making impactful strides in our community. We believe in giving back – whether it’s through pro-bono consulting for community-based organizations, engaging in charitable endeavors, or actively participating in smaller projects. It’s a testament to our resilience in the market and our unwavering commitment to serving our community.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sapientconsultingservice.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/sapientcsllc
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/sapientcsllc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisha-ashford-19a094246/
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/sapientcsllc