Meet Ashley Yazzie-ward

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Yazzie-ward a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley , we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?

As a young girl I observed generosity as a trait found within the people I looked up to. My mother who always shared, my grandfather who gladly served his community, and my Aunt Evvie who constantly looked for ways to take care of others. As a child, I noted that generosity was something to partner with daily. In opportunities that could be as small as giving someone the dignity of a kind word, or something bigger such as granting our time and focus on a charity we care about. Generosity is a personal call to action, and I try to share that sense of duty with my three children. I want them to feel that tug of ownership to become a generous member of society.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a licensed cosmetologist with a career as a luxury hair designer at Hainsworth & Co. Salon. I specialize in custom color, hand tied extensions, and cuts. I love being in a trade that allows me to work as little as 3 days a week behind the chair. This allows me the flexibility I require of myself, to be a present mother and wife within my home. My career sparks a bright creative light within me. I feel joy going to the salon and constructing beautiful hair for my generous clients. I am a rental hair stylist, so that means I have my own business within the business. I take joy in doing inventory, keeping my locker tidy, working on marketing, and learning the latest trends in my field.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

In a luxury environment, I am keenly aware that people have many options for their services. What I’ve gleaned from my professional journey is threefold: be kind, over deliver in expectations, and serve with a happy heart. I am always impressed by anyone that gives their all in any field. It’s beyond inspiring when someone goes above and beyond the call of duty. In fact, it’s downright rare these days. I encourage anyone who is early in their professional journey to show up with the goal in mind to be genuinely hospitable within your realm, and make everyone feel welcomed.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

The growth aspect that I’ve been working on is in protecting my time. I had to become extremely stingy with the word yes. I found myself taking on far too much and being worn down by over functioning. Declining opportunities, outings, or events is not easy-but guarding my energy became paramount.

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Image Credits

Photography, all images: Caiden Torres

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