Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashlee Byers.
Hi Ashlee, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’d like to say that my journey’s been equal parts faith, grit, and a good sense of humor. I started my career at the intersection of psychology and leadership, curious about what makes people tick and what helps organizations thrive. That curiosity led me into coporate training and change management, where I found my sweet spot: helping people grow while helping companies evolve.
Over the years, I’ve built learning programs from the ground up, led teams across industries, and somehow managed to keep my sense of humanity intact through all of the “organizational transformations.” I’m now that Director of Change Management & CRM Training, but titles aside, what really drives me is developing people. I’ve seen firsthand how mentorship, emotional intelligence, and representation can completely shift a workplace culture.
As a Black woman in leadership, my path hasn’t been linear… it’s been layered. Every challenge sharpened my empathy and refined my purpose to make spaces safer, smarter, and more inclusive for those coming after me.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth? Not even close. My road has had potholes, detours, and a few construction zones that I didn’t even see coming. Being a Black woman in corporate leadership means constantly navigating systems that weren’t designed with you in mind, but still finding innovative ways to thrive within them and leave your mark.
Professionally, I’ve had to prove myself in rooms where my presence was questioned before my performance ever was. Personally, I’ve faced challenges that that forced me to redefine strength altogether. I’ve under gone multiple brain surgeries for a condition that completely shifted my persepctive on success, self-care, and purpose. When your life is literally on the line, you start leading- and living- differently.
Those experiences taught me that resilience isn’t about pretending everything’s fine. It’s about showing up, even when it’s hard, and giving yourself grace when you can’t. Every setback became part of my training ground, shaping how I lead today… with empathy, boundaries, and an unshakeable belief that healing and ambition can coexist.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’d like to say that I’m in the business of transformation. Transformation of people, processes, and mindsets. As a Director of Change Management and CRM Training, I help organizations navigate growth withough losing their humanity. My work sits at the intersection of psychology, leadership, and learning, which means that I get to bridge the gap between strategy and empathy everyday.
I specialize in building learning ecosystems– programs that don’t just train peoople, but actually change how they think and lead. Whether it’s redesigning a national training program, developing leaders across multiple industries, or helping teams embrace change that they didn’t ask for, I’m known for making complex things feel human and achievable.
What sets me apart is that I dont’ just focus on performance metrics– I focus on people. I’ve lived through enough transformation, personally, to know that sustainable growth starts with emotional intelligence and psychological safety. My proudest moments aren’t the big launches or titles– they’re the quiet messages from people who say, “You made me feel seen.”
At the end of the day, my work isn’t just about organizational development… it’s about people development. The systems matter, but the souls inside them matter even more.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Absolutley. Nothing about my journey has been a solo act. My foundation was built by a family of brilliant, grounded people who beilieved in excellence long before I even understood what that meant.
My dad taught me the power of presence and integrity–how to stand tall in rooms that might not expect you and to never comporomise your values once you get there. My mom is a force–she’s a dentist and chair at a medical school, and she modeled what it looks like to lead with both brilliance and compassion. She showed me that success meand nothing if you forget your humanity in the process.
And then there’s my three younger sisters–each accomplished in their own right, each a mirror reflecting something back to me. They’re my built-in board of directors, my sounding board, and my biggest cheerleaders. Watching them carve their own professional paths has pushed me to dream bigger and keep showing up, even on the hard days.
My family set the bar high, but more importantly they taught me to reach for it with grace, grit, and a sense of humor. I stand where I do because they never let me forget where I came from.
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Image Credits
Mauria Moore
