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

Ashley, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

2014 was the year that changed the trajectory of my life forever.

Let me take you back, I would work 12 hour shifts– only being paid for 8, and skip lunch to survive on white chocolate mochas the whole day. Working in client-facing roles, needing to be “on” all the time, managing teams and the occasional rude customer– I was completely burned out! My health was in bad shape with frequent migraines, malnourished and I would get hives as soon as I walked into the store. So, after nearly a decade of building a reputation with hundreds of contacts in the retail and fashion industry, I was officially fed up.

On one side, I was exhausted and needed a break from the pressures of the industry. On the other side, I had a deep desire to make more of a positive impact on the world. I spent much of my life working three times as hard to prove my worth to others. I remember thinking, this couldn’t be what I was put on this earth to do.. With this idea in mind, I took a personal and professional inventory. At the time, I believed that I would need to immerse myself completely into a new industry to accomplish what I desired. Going back to school for a Master’s degree was a calculated risk that I took with the goal to be taken seriously in a new industry.

Even though I felt “too old” to go back to school and also felt as if I would be starting over I still believed it was the right risk to take. After some self reflection and researching Master’s programs, it was clear to me that I wanted to explore public health. A year into my program, despite paying high New York City rent, I chose to quit my salaried job with a private jeweler and accept an unpaid internship at a research lab. I didn’t have a wealthy family to fall back on so this decision meant sticking to a strict budget and even applying for government assistance– two new adult experiences.

As you can imagine, alot was changing for me during this time both internally and externally.
I enjoyed the research work and found myself leaning heavily on the people skills that I developed in the fashion and retail industry to quickly build rapport with study participants. My knowledge was expanding, I learned about counseling theories, teaching strategies, research methods, as well as the intersection of race and health impacts. All great things but externally I was navigating my own beauty crisis. In addition to being burned out from the work I was doing previously, I was fatigued by the beauty standards of the fashion and retail industry. I was experiencing so much resistance to wearing makeup, straightening my hair or wearing weaves, all societal beauty standards. As if I didn’t have enough change happening already, I also decided to go natural. Which meant that for the first time since the 4th grade I stopped chemically straightening my hair and witnessed my natural hair texture. As a Black woman, my hair is an integral part of who I am and how I express myself. The natural hair journey brought up insecurities in my appearance and a reckoning of how I saw beauty. A very unexpected wall in the midst of actively taking on risk.

With all the newest swirling around me at this time, the Master’s program wasn’t the catalyst to inspire the ways that I could make more of a positive impact on the world. It was actually when I joined the New York State Department of Health Crisis and Abuse Coach program that I experienced alignment with my purpose. In one of our earlier sessions, we were introduced to the Power and Control Wheel. It’s used to help assign words to or define the behaviors that abusers use to maintain their control. This tool has been adapted over the years to highlight experiences of abuse of power in the workplace as well. It’s a staple in my Navigating Workplace Dynamics and Conflict Resolution workshops that I still use today! It’s surprising that despite my plan to go back to school, a 40 hour certification program was the solution to unlocking my desire to positively impact others.

The risk to drastically change industries and embark on a two year journey for my graduate degree became the foundation for everything that followed in my career. During this time I immersed myself in behavior change models, statistics, and discussions that challenged me to think outside of the box. I read countless articles and self-help books like The Four Agreements by Don Miquel Ruiz. Which led to a nuanced worldview that has allowed me to hold powerful conversations with thousands on topics that people tend to shy away from.

In a way, in 2014 I became a womanist, as coined by Alice Walker in 1983. I went from burnout to boundaries, to speaking up for myself, harnessing my personal power and empowering others to do the same. Known as the “corporate chiropractor, ” it turns out that “people” were the through-line in my career regardless of the industry. The path forward may hold new challenges, but with every risk I take, I’m more equipped to empower others to use their own power.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Ashley McLemore, the founder of Begin With Ashley. I’m passionate about empowering leaders and organizations to break free from the constraints of societal expectations, transforming them into impactful leaders who truly make a difference. You might know me as the “corporate chiropractor”—a title I embrace because I help people align their actions with their core values through candid, centered, and compassionate conversations.
Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of coaching thousands of leaders—from solopreneurs to corporate directors. My intersectional approach encourages them to realign their values with their business goals, fostering leadership rooted in integrity, inclusion, and meaningful impact. I believe that when leaders embrace who they truly are, they can inspire and engage their teams in ways that enhance employee engagement and retention.
At Begin With Ashley, we offer a unique perspective on leadership development. We focus on empowering leaders on a personal level, helping them address internalized conflicts to create a more equitable company culture. We create safe spaces for vulnerable conversations, guiding leaders on their journeys to become more impactful while implementing policies that prioritize team well-being.
Using evidence-based behavior change models, our services include training, workshops, fireside chats, and one-on-one private coaching. These approaches help leaders shift from avoiding difficult conversations to collaborating effectively and from passive people-pleasing to mastering powerful conflict resolution processes.
We provide a space for leaders to grow, reconcile their internal conflicts, and overcome biases. I encourage them to begin their journey toward becoming the leaders they aspire to be, ultimately creating workplaces where everyone thrives.

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

After falling in love with training and facilitation during my Master’s program, embracing entrepreneurship took time and resilience. I signed my first consulting contract as a sole proprietor in 2016 but continued to juggle full-time work alongside my business.
There were moments I questioned what I was doing, whether things would ever click for me, or if I’d ever be able to stop working. But each small win fueled my commitment, and I kept going, even in the most challenging times. Four years later, I took the leap and officially incorporated, naming my business “Begin With Ashley” to symbolize my decision to fully ‘BEGIN’ and treat entrepreneurship as my purpose. “To begin” is also a mantra I share with clients, encouraging them to embrace the discomfort, no matter how uncertain.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Create a brag-worthy experience! If your clients become your marketing, your clientele will grow. For me, that means understanding the spoken and unspoken needs of the client, becoming part of their DNA, and providing an experience that feels personal and impactful. It’s not only about delivering the service but creating memorable interactions, ensuring each client feels genuinely valued and heard. When clients feel that kind of connection, they’re excited to recommend you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ashleymclemore.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/begin.withashley/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7128901266243555328

Image Credits

3 Photos with demin top and jeans and pink wall were taken by: KNOD da God