We recently connected with Ashley Lynn Priore and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ashley Lynn, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
From a very young age, I was often the only girl in a room full of boys at chess tournaments. That experience shaped the way I interact with the world. When you grow up constantly being “the only one,” you learn early how to command space that wasn’t built for you – how to lead, how to listen, and how to stand firm in your worth.
Rather than waiting for permission or acceptance, I decided to create my own path. That’s how the Queens Gambit Chess Institute was born – out of a desire to build a more inclusive and empowering environment for young people, especially girls, to see themselves in leadership roles through chess. What once made me feel like an outsider became my greatest strength: the ability to see gaps, challenge traditions, and reimagine what the board – and the world – could look like.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’ve always believed that chess is more than a game – it’s a mirror of life. I started playing competitively when I was four years old and quickly realized that while chess taught me strategy, patience, and resilience, it also revealed something bigger: how few young women and girls had access to that same opportunity.
That realization shaped everything I’ve done since. As a teenager, I founded Queens Gambit Chess Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to using chess as a tool for leadership development, civic engagement, and social impact. Over the last decade, our programs have reached thousands of youth across Pittsburgh and beyond, empowering a new generation of strategic, thoughtful leaders. From after-school classes to Chess Week Pittsburgh (the nation’s only citywide celebration of the game), we’re showing how chess can transform communities.
Alongside that, I launched Queenside Ventures, a consulting and media firm that brings the lessons of the chessboard into business, sports, and leadership. Through Queenside, I’ve worked with NFL teams, corporate executives, and universities to help them think differently. They are seeing leadership as a game of strategy, not chance.
What excites me most is how these worlds are starting to merge: sport, strategy, storytelling, and social good. I’m expanding our leadership programs for athletes, building national partnerships, and continuing to create spaces where chess becomes a language for empowerment and innovation.
At the heart of it all, my mission remains the same: to help people, especially young women, learn the game, change the rules, and make their move.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three qualities have truly shaped my journey: mentorship, curiosity, and self-awareness.
First, mentorship has been everything. I’ve always made it a point to reach out to people whose stories inspire me – not to ask for anything, but to listen and learn. Hearing how others navigated obstacles or moments of uncertainty has helped me build my own compass. My advice to anyone starting out is simple: don’t wait for mentors to find you. Seek them out. Ask questions. Be curious about how people got where they are, and you’ll begin to see patterns that can guide your own path.
Second, curiosity fuels growth. Whether through chess, leadership, or entrepreneurship, I’ve learned that the best ideas come from staying endlessly curious about the world – always asking “why” and “what if.”
Finally, inward thinking – or what I call self-strategy – is essential. You have to understand what drives you, what drains you, and what problems you feel called to solve. The greatest leaders I know have an internal game plan as strong as their external one. When you take the time to understand your motivations and align your actions with your values, every move becomes intentional.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents always encouraged me to pursue what I love – and that made all the difference. They never confined my interests to one path or definition of success; instead, they gave me the freedom to explore, experiment, and fail forward. Whether it was chess, writing, leadership, or community work, they provided me with options and nurtured an endless curiosity about the world.
That mindset – to stay curious, to follow what excites you, and to see learning as a lifelong game – is something I carry with me in everything I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.queensideventures.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleylynnpriore/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-lynn-priore/
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