We’re looking forward to introducing you to Ashley Barrett. Check out our conversation below.
Ashley, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I have recently joined a female golf club and I’m very excited about it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Ashley Barrett commonly known as Ashley B. Wife to my high school sweet heart Mike B. and millennial mom of 4 mini adults who’s ages range from 20 years old to 16 years old ( my youngest child).Yes lol I do not have babies instead 4 mini adults that I love deeply but can also drive me crazy at times. I currently hold an Associates Degree in Early Childhood education but I’m wrapping up this fall finishing school with my bachelors degree from Old Dominion University. I’m very blessed to have a husband that loves me unconditionally , supports my career and business choices, along with the demands of the titles I hold. Ashley B, “the brand” is an educator and influencer of all things faith, fashion, and finance related. In 2024 I decided to RE-BRAND because I wanted to give people an insight of my life being a wife, mom, and a boss.
Often times woman are told that having those titles all together is impossible. However I’m showing woman daily that it is indeed possible to manage a career, own a business, while being a wife and mom. The proverbs 31 woman from the bible is truly my inspiration on top of truly trusting that I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. The proverbs 31 woman had multiple income streams i.e. investments, trading, handmade goods, property(land) and she didn’t build a business to look busy instead to serve and sustain.
What makes Ashley B. (me) different from others is the fact that I share my personal struggles on being a wife, mom, and boss. I don’t always show up aesthetically put together on my platforms when I’m sharing my insight , struggles, or tips because I care more about the message being put out instead of how put together I appear. I believe sharing my transparent short comings in business and motherhood has made me more relatable to an audience of woman that can share my pain.
Career wise I’m a “Head of School” for a private preschool in the North Carolina area. I’m also an influencer on more than one platform but currently getting paid on Facebook. Also, business wise I own a Financial services business that help families and businesses save on taxes (legally) while also protecting assets and building wealth. Being in financial services has brought me so much joy and wisdom especially because I did not come from a family that had wealth building conversations. I was 30 years old when I was educated on how money is taxed and how money is a tool (when used properly) that can build wealth. Being a wife, mom, and boss has awarded me with so many experiences that I plan to share more of through the launching of my book and podcast show coming Summer of 2026. On top of the things I’m launching my influencer business will heavily be helping small businesses and corporations with marketing and branding.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child I was often times told that I was disrespectful whenever I would speak up about something that bothered me. Through therapy I began to see that I actually was not disrespectful but instead I’m a “Advocate and Activist”. I have no problem speaking up and highlighting injustices or wrongdoing even if makes others uncomfortable.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
2023 was the worst year of my life and I absolutely wanted to throw in the towel with everything. It was my oldest child’s senior year in high school and one of my worse years in business. I felt like my life was falling apart yet I still had to show up as a wife, mom, and boss. My oldest son had multiple college visits because he was killing it in track and field to the point that he was a 2 time all American and had ran in the junior Olympics on top of multiple other accolades. Yet with all the success my son was having everything else around me was far from successful. My husband fell into a deep depression after death came in 3’s and one death was his grandmother(who truly meant a lot to him) that caused him deep pain. While trying to be an understanding wife life hit me harder by having one son try to commit suicide and another son who was arrested and had to serve time in a juvenile detention center which was my child that was a straight A student in all honors class. I learned all too well how to cry in the shower or if I was by myself on the car rides home I would cry so hard . I started having bad anxiety and panic attacks to the point I didn’t even have an appetite so I began losing a lot of weight. Through all the grief I’ve suffered in my life I normally do well at just focusing on over achieving at work to avoid having to acknowledge the pain of life. I couldn’t even focus at that time I had just signed a deal with a network for a show called “Millennials and Money” that would launch on Roku, amazon tv, and apple tv. I have no idea how I manage to do the promo for the show and film episodes with all of that going on but I did. I made no excuses to not film or to not go to work etc…2023 showed me how resilient I am and also how faithful God is because I’m sure I was supposed to lose my mind yet I became sharper and wiser.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
That would be my 3 mentors Joanna Colasito, Tammy Fraser, and Tamishia Udeze those three ladies are very successful and powerful. It would also be one of my older sisters Candi King although she’s my sister I’ve watched her be a delegate, wife, mom, and bossy sibling lol. Honestly all three of my sisters have made an huge imprint on my life. Each of the woman I mentioned showed me the importance of servant leadership and the importance of integrity. They taught me that it’s only one way I should do business and that’s the integral way because people respect leaders that honestly work their way up.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I was inspirational and hopefully that I was the face of perseverance. Hopefully people will share how I encouraged them to seek Christ and how blessed and lit it is to live a surrendered life. I want people to say that I didn’t fall for limits that may have been placed on me but instead I broke off everything that could have limited me. I could have let my dad passing at age 10, living out of an hotel while in high school, sleeping on the floor, having my car repossessed , losing two of my nephews, death of one of my best friends, etc.should have been the plenty of reasons to not pursue my goals and dreams yet I still did! I persevered!
Contact Info:
- Facebook: Ashley Barrett
- Youtube: @styledbyashley_b
- Other: tiktok @iammrs_ashleyb1
