I’m Ashley Gaddy
Educator, Scholar-Activist and Researcher
Book AGE

Empowerment Speaker
Customized speeches for conferences, institutes, summits, university programs, etc. based on the content of the event. Topics can include, but not limited to:
Motivational, Self-Growth and Authenticity, or Inspiration for Change.
Keynote Experience:
“Inside Out: Navigating Spaces from the Mind of an Unapologetic Woman” Emporia State University
“Disrupting the Status Quo” North Carolina State University
Leadership Development
Sessions to assist leaders and emerging leaders learn traits and skills required to successfully manage teams and programs using an authentic leadership framework.
Leadership Development Experience:
Student Union Programming Board, University of Georgia
#BisonLead Conference, Howard University
Diversity and Inclusion Services
Train staffs, teams, companies, groups, on topics surrounding Diversity and Inclusion such as implicit bias, anti-racism, intersectionality and more. These workshops are handcrafted to meet the needs of the audience.
Training Experience:
Horry County Government
University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Personal Consultant
This service allows for reoccurring dedicated time with a client to help create, plan, and implement their own path to self-growth and awareness, whether in diversity or personal work.
Consulting Experience:
“Escape to Sisterhood” Wilmington, NC
What Is Authentic Leadership?
Authentic Leadership is an approach used to incorporate ones values and purpose into a managerial style that focuses on who people are individually while being mission driven and focused on results. It is hard to be unapologetically yourself especially if one hasn’t taken the time to learn who they are. AGE uses this approach to handcraft sessions that focus on self-identity and awareness.
What is Inclusivity?
The process of active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity in ways that increase awareness and empathic understanding of the complex ways individuals interact within systems and institutions. AGE creates workshops on topics surrounding inclusivity and more specifically how bias and systems of power, privilege, and oppression play a role in leveraging difference for equality and positive social change.
What is Empowerment?
A liberation process made to give power and confidence to self in order to represent and stand for their interests, values, and beliefs. Life experiences and people may take from us, it is important that we empower and uplift ourselves to refuel passions. AGE empowers audiences to feel proud of who they are and motivates them to take the next step!
About Me
I’m Ashley Gaddy, the founder and head consultant of Ashley Gaddy Enterprises.
Social Justice Education, Social Change, and Empowerment efforts are my passions and I believe everyone has the ability to use them positively!
As a Black southern woman working at predominately white institutions, I spend much of my time advocating for underrepresented students, faculty, and staff and learning about the issues they face. I am also dedicated to educating and serving the community, working with non-profit organizations, and building partnerships with corporations and government.
My professional background started in corporate communications and transitioned to higher education. My experience in the university began in Housing and has branched into other academic areas, including serving in the classroom as an instructor.
I received my Bachelor’s in Communication Studies and Master’s in Liberal Studies from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. I am currently a doctoral candidate, defending fields: Postcolonial Feminism and Biopolitics in the Cultural Studies PhD program at George Mason University.
I love spending time with family and friends and my dog, Bobo, while relaxing on the beach! I love good food and live music! I am also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Thank you for visiting my page and I am excited about this work and look forward to connecting.
Testimonials
“We were really pleased with the presentation and we have received great feedback from the participants.”
“Ashley Gaddy has the knowledge, skills, and awareness to facilitate social justice conversations that focus on developing students and staff. Ashley’s energy, passion, endurance, and connection with the audience were beyond impressive. Overall a wonderful speaker and a pleasure to work with!”