Ashley, appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
I am what you’d call “risk-prone.” I have a deep passion for kickstarting new projects, brands, and companies. However, it’s not without careful calculation and strategy. What I have learned is even after meticulous planning, decisions always boil down to trusting your gut. From my journey with Rare Global to co-founding The Be Rare Foundation and hosting A Rare Day Women’s Summits, and even launching brands like Eggie with Jenn Im and Sireni Beauty alongside Chloe Morello, I’ve always believed in taking bold steps. Over time, I’ve come to understand that with the right mix of confidence, commitment, a stellar team, and sharp instincts, there’s always invaluable growth to experience. Whether it’s reaching a milestone, learning a lesson, or making a defining career or life investment, the rewards are immense.

I am the founder and CEO of Rare Global, the only women-led, women-focused talent management company in the digital space. After graduating from UCLA in 2007 and Loyola Law School in 2011, I joined Lionsgate, before acting as in-house counsel at StyleHaul, the first-ever fashion focused multi-channel network. With that experience, I founded Rare Global in 2014, representing leading creators in beauty, fashion and lifestyle, such as Jenn Im, Pokimane, Michelle Phan, and Chloe Morello, as well as rising stars in fashion and media, such as Morgan Riddle. I’m honored to have been praised by Elle Magazine for inventing my own career.  I’ve also been passionate about charity initiatives, co-founding The Be Rare Foundation, a non-profit for women entrepreneurs which has raised more that $65k, and Asian Women Alliance, which has raised over $100k in funding for AAPI initiatives.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
I always gauge growth in terms of impact and value. It’s so important to be thoughtful in what you decide to say yes to, and who you spend your time building with. For me, that means having a handful of clients who I can give my all to and working with a good team and reliable partners who align with your vision and work ethic. It makes everything that much more worthwhile.

I also recommend to my clients who want to do it all: start first with your core passions, pour into that, and take it from there, instead of spreading yourself to othin to be able to focus and enjoy the journey.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I know that talent managers and agents in my industry would agree: resilience is built day to day from experience and insight. Often, you have to embrace having the hard conversations, whether with your own clients or partners, to cut through the noise and get to the next level. Learning how to communicate clearly, anticipate sensitivities and conflicts, interpret nuances, and practice both respect and humility at times—that’s the job, and it’s not usually easy.

I’ve also learned how crucial it is to slow down, take a look around, and discern what’s really important. Some challenges, like taking on too much or internalizing difficult situations, are a choice that you can walk away from.

Contact information:

• Website: http://www.rare.global/
• Email: ASHLEY@RARE.GLOBAL