Inspiring Conversations with Ashley Leftwich

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Leftwich.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
As a multigenerational Williamson County resident, I grew up supporting nonprofits and our community hands-on assisting organizations achieve their mission through refined processes, systems, fundraising, and marketing strategies. As a teenager, I danced ballet and jazz professionally building my creative and competitive spirit. I did however engage a great left-brain balance living in a home with my mom owning a computer software development company (Dealer Software Associates), my dad a business analyst, and my brother a biomedical engineer.

I was fortunate enough to earn a formal education focused on Business Administration, Marketing, and Information Systems. After earning my MBA, I started my career on the corporate side of life in a very successful sales role at a Fortune 100 company, where I ranked number one in sales for North America and had my designed marketing collateral adopted as the brand standard company-wide. Working there, I had the opportunity to work with all types of clients and industry segments before making a successful transition to non-profit work as my career. After working at a poverty-alleviating nonprofit, I landed at Rock the Street, Wall Street five years ago starting as the first fundraiser on the team and later being promoted to Chief Operating Officer.

As Chief Operating Officer, I cultivate a positive, collaborative working environment by using my natural gifts of leadership and administration to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and education. In my personal life, I live a philanthropic lifestyle striving to impact the future of our communities and the natural world, currently serving as a Board Member with Walden’s Puddle Wildlife Center for Greater Nashville and as Fine Arts Chair with the Williamson County Fair. I also enjoy immersing myself with my family in nature and visiting national parks.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Growing up with strong parental role models, being reared in this supportive city, and being exposed to a large community as a citizen of a world, filled with diversity of thought, I am fortunate to have autonomy in my path that looks starkly different than my peers.

With both of my parents in STEM professions, I excelled at math and came to Rock the Street, Wall Street very genuinely. Girls in the modern-day Western world are frequently directed away from mathematics from an early age, influenced by a combination of teaching biases, societal norms, cultural expectations, and other factors leaving those of us who do pursue math one of few. I found myself at university being the only woman in the room for math class and when seeking career advice from my Calculus professor it was suggested I teach.

I did not realize an abundance of finance professions existed. Today, I have the privilege of working in a career aligned with my passion every day. Empowering more girls, many without familial collegiate experience, to find math relatable, to equip them with investment/financial knowledge, and to bridge the gender and racial gap inspiring diverse young women to participate in the capital markets and to pursue finance.

We’ve been impressed with Rock the Street, and Wall Street, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Rock The Street, Wall Street (RTSWS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing diverse high school girls and our alumnae with financial and investment engagement, career development, and industry access. Starting here in Nashville with one cohort eleven years ago, RTSWS now serves girls across 60+ high schools in 30+ U.S. cities, Toronto, and London.

RTSWS cohorts identify as 73% BIPOC, and 50% qualify for free or reduced lunch. Our mission is to bring the “M” in STEM to diverse high school girls, harnessing the power of mathematics and the upward mobility STEM careers provide in one generation. Investment literacy benefits these young women by equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the financial world. Our comprehensive academic year-long program ensures they make informed decisions about their financial futures, fostering financial independence.

Through our programs, we offer invaluable instruction on capital markets participation which opens doors to career opportunities. We believe in democratizing access that was once reserved for privileged families, enabling our students to build a brighter economic future. With RTSWS, young women gain the knowledge and confidence to navigate the financial industry and chart their path to success.

Thanks to our early intervention programs, RTSWS alumnae are achieving remarkable success, with 5 times more of them pursuing degrees in finance, economics, and related business computational fields compared to the average U.S. female university attendee. This outstanding progress underscores the urgency and importance of our mission. Now, more than ever, we must continue our critical work to provide diverse girls with a clear path to college and the opportunities that await them on Wall Street or Main Street.

I as Chief Operating Officer lead the 15+ employee team to implement programming and support to these young ladies. Together, we are breaking barriers and empowering the next generation of female leaders in the finance world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rockthestreetwallstreet.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rtsws_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/girlsrockwallst/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyileftwich/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUKCvfew0BGIoA1iaqmjviw

Image Credits
Tara Winstead Photography and Rock The Street, Wall Street