We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashley Loute. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashley below.
Ashley, we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
Let’s just say it: leadership with mental health struggles is brutal. Everyone talks about hustle, balance, grit—but no one tells you how hard it is to lead people, build vision, and not completely fall apart when your brain feels like it’s glitching every five minutes.
I have ADHD and bipolar disorder. That’s not a quirk. It’s a daily battle. Some mornings I wake up with fire in my chest and can move mountains. Other days, I stare at my screen for two hours feeling like a fraud. I used to mask it hard—overcompensate, outwork, people-please, spiral, repeat. But it broke me.
What’s saved me? Radical honesty. I had to stop pretending I could “just push through.” I got therapy. I got on meds. I built a team around me that doesn’t expect me to be superhuman. I created tools: reminders, voice notes, planners, “do not disturb” time blocks (usually on most of the working day) to keep my brain from combusting. And I still fail sometimes. But now, I bounce back faster.
I started owning what makes me Ashley—my creativity, emotional depth, energy, intuition. I stopped trying to be the corporate robot version of myself and leaned into the messy, real person I actually am. The kind who tells the truth. The kind who builds safe spaces. The kind who doesn’t just talk mental health but lives the reality of it.
Because here’s the truth: if I have to lead, I’m going do it with my whole self. Raw. Real. And hopefully that gives someone else permission to do the same.
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’m the Vice President of Assets at Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County in official title, where I lead the charge on finances, operations, and innovation for a youth-serving non-profit. But that title doesn’t really cover it. What I actually do is help build the kind of infrastructure that lets our mission grow legs—and run.
We’re not just managing dollars. We’re making sure every single one fuels safe spaces where kids become confident, kind, capable humans. Kids who believe in themselves. Who stay safe. Who grow up to lead, give back, and make the world better.
Why It Matters:
When I started, this organization was operating at about $1 million. Fresh out of a merger. Now? We’re a multi-million dollar engine with scalable, sustainable systems—and we’re still growing. But we’re not scaling just to say we did. We’re scaling because every single community deserves Club kids. When a Club is in a neighborhood, that neighborhood gets better. Safer. Stronger. More hopeful. That’s not fluff—it’s real.
And we’re not just investing in kids. We’re investing in the people who serve them—staff, mentors, community leaders. We’re creating jobs, growing leadership pipelines, and pushing back on the narrative that non-profits should just “make do.” We’re done surviving. We’re building to thrive.
The Work Behind the Work:
Yeah, I’ve led or assisted with big projects—system overhauls, capital campaigns, digital transformation, org-wide restructuring. But honestly? That’s just the surface. The deeper work is culture-shifting. It’s proving that strategy and heart aren’t opposites. It’s showing up when it’s messy, when the spreadsheets don’t balance, when the vision feels too big—and doing it anyway.
The Bigger Picture:
This isn’t just a job for me. It’s a calling. I want to leave behind organizations that are human-centered, future-ready, and unapologetically bold about doing “good” well. Because when we get it right, we’re not just changing lives—we’re changing the future of entire communities.
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?
1. Adaptability & Resilience: Things rarely go as planned. Whether it’s an unexpected resignation, a funding shift, or a personal mental health dip, I’ve learned that being able to adapt and bounce back is a non-negotiable. Resilience isn’t just about being tough—it’s about staying grounded when everything around you is moving. Growth shows up when things get uncomfortable, and the leaders who rise are the ones who stay in the fire long enough to learn from it.
2. Strategic Vision & Systems Thinking:
Big ideas are great, but they mean nothing without the structure to support them. I’ve become obsessed with building systems that make vision real. I too am learning to zoom out to see the full picture while also staying close enough to the details that matter. It is not an easy task! You can’t scale chaos. You need intention, alignment, and the ability to turn “what if” into a plan that actually works. It’s not just about doing the work—it’s about understanding why it matters and where it’s taking you.
3. Emotional Intelligence & Communication:
People don’t follow titles—they follow trust. And that starts with emotional intelligence. Being able to read the room, shift your delivery, and connect with people where they are is a quiet superpower. It’s what creates safety, clarity, and culture. Over the years, I’ve learned that how you say something often matters more than what you say. Great communication can unify a team—or unravel it.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through all of this is in hiring. I used to believe the right hire was whoever had the strongest resume—or someone who just felt “easy” or like me in the interview. I can’t count how many times I made a decision out of urgency or fatigue. I hired people because I needed a body in the seat, not because they were aligned with the mission, the values, or the long game. And every time, it cost me—and the team.
What I know now is that hard skills get the job done, but soft skills, energy, and mindset are what move things forward. I want people who are obsessed with improving, who ask hard questions, who don’t shrink back from challenge. That’s who I try to be—and that’s who I look for in others. Because when you’re passionate about your calling, work and life aren’t separate—they’re deeply blended. And who you bring into the work matters more than you realize.
Give me someone who’s coachable, curious, and consistent—and we’ll go further than the person with ten more years of experience but none of the drive.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
We serve youth and teens, ages 6–18, who deserve more than just a place to go after school—they deserve a place to grow. The kids who walk through our blue doors aren’t just looking for homework help or a hot meal (though they’ll get those too). They’re looking for safety. For consistency. For someone to believe in them, especially when the world doesn’t make it easy.
Our ideal “client” is the kid who’s got big potential but too many barriers. The teen who’s curious about coding but doesn’t have Wi-Fi at home. The 10-year-old whose parent works double shifts and just needs a space that feels stable. The middle schooler who doesn’t talk much—until a mentor helps her find her voice. The young person who’s got fire, talent, and leadership inside them, but hasn’t had a place to unlock it yet.
We’re also here for the families. The caregivers who are doing the absolute best they can but need support—real support. Not just programs, but people who care. Who listen. Who show up.
Whether it’s academic support, meals, mental health resources, sports, STEM, workforce readiness, or just a place to belong—our work is about access. Opportunity. Dignity. And growth.
At the end of the day, our ideal “client” is any young person who deserves more—and any adult willing to partner with us to make that possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bgcpolk.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bgcpolk/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BGCPolk/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-loute/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaZT2AuFImfuiBmptR9Jexg
