We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashley Copeland. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashley below.

Ashley, appreciate you joining us today. Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?

Some of the women who have influenced me most are women not my age, not in the same walk of life as me, but they offer lessons through the way they live their lives on a daily basis. Some I see every day and some are no longer with me but I carry them in my heart.

My first hero(s) would be my daughters. I have a beautifully blended family; 2 of my girls are step daughters and 1 is biological but my heart beats for all 3 the same. As each one is so different, they are also so perfect in their own ways which has taught me to celebrate my own femininity and to appreciate the beauty and diversity of all women. At times, I struggle with feeling the need to constantly be productive but when they encourage me to sit, play a card game, snuggle up it teaches me to be present and learn to enjoy the moment. I view life differently because of my girls. Each of them make my every day so much brighter as a result.

My grandmother is my other hero, she passed away at 92 but her passion for life lives on in me. Towards the end of her life I remember asking her what one piece of advice she would give me. She laughed and said “Take the risks Ashley and don’t be afraid to make mistakes…”. Those words have stuck with me on my nonprofit journey. When I don’t know what next step to take or who to call to partner with us and I begin to feel like maybe this vision has gotten me in over my head, I remember grandma Ruth’s words- “take the risk” “don’t be afraid to make mistakes” and then I take another step forward. Her words are daily motivation for me.

I hope to continue to learn from what they have taught me as I carry these lessons to help create a network of support and a village for other women throughout Austin.

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

As a kid and young adult I spent the majority of my time in Southern California. I currently live in Austin and while I will never leave Texas because I love it so much, my Cali roots run deep.

Growing up my parents were missionaries and I was raised in a border town called Calexico (California + Mexico). I’ve always been immersed in the nonprofit world and owe it to my parents for teaching me how to care for others so deeply and how to reach out and meet people where they are in life. I always knew the nonprofit sector was where I belonged.

I got my B.A., Religious Studies from UCLA and shortly after a few life detours, I ended up where I was supposed to be, in Austin Texas. I have four kids total (2 bio + 2 bonus). I love being a mom more than anything else. My children bring me immense joy and strength every single day. I am married to one the biggest of the Angels in my single mom journey. He offered sincere love and unwavering support expecting nothing in return. I will forever be changed by his demonstration of love.

In 2020, I founded my nonprofit to support single parents as a way to give back. The inspiration behind it was based on a time when a complete stranger approached me in a restaurant and asked if I was a single mom. The next day when getting home from work, I noticed she had left me diapers, shoes, clothes, and food that would last for over a month. I cried because I felt so seen and so supported. In time, I knew I needed to do my part to pay it forward and wanted to walk alongside other womens journeys the way people walked with me along mine. In 2023, we rebranded as The Women of Austin Foundation to expand our efforts to reach all women in all walks of life because it truly takes a village.

I am beyond grateful for my family, my history, and the future we are building with The Women of Austin Foundation.

Have you ever had to pivot?

My story was similar to many during the pandemic – my company was sold and I lost my job as a result. It was such a challenging time for me. I had just gone from single mom to a blended family with 4 kids and now I was without the job I had worked at for over a decade. The job that supported me and my children when we were alone- it was one of the only constants I had. Suddenly, I didn’t have it any longer and I had an entirely new family dynamic. I felt a little lost to say the least.

After I got the call about being laid off (along with most of the employees), I panicked and immediately started to look for something new. My husband sat me down and encouraged me to let myself take a breath for a minute and figure out what I WANT to do and he promised to support me in whatever it was. He challenged me to look inward to figure out who I wanted to become and live from that place. It was because of this time, I had the courage to start a nonprofit.

My husband’s unconditional support on both my single mom journey and my career journey have been undeniably life-changing. While it provided me the safety to take the risk I had always been afraid of, I had the courage to pivot in my career path only because I began to trust myself. My goal is to tap into that same trust and support on a daily basis so that I can continue to pivot when needed in life because that is what leads to growth.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Let me start by saying, I LOVE PODCASTS! The one that has really helped me the most with my nonprofit aspirations has been “Business Made Simple” by Donald Miller. I have learned the power of creating a clear message and vision statement so that I can connect with both donors and recipients more effectively.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://womenofaustinfoundation.com
• Instagram: @thewomenofaustinfoundation
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ashley-s-angels-austin/