Meet Ashley Sanders

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashley Sanders. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ashley , first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Since I was a little girl, I’ve always struggled with self-esteem issues. I saw everyone around me as great, but I always viewed myself as less than or as if I were missing something. The irony is that when I was very young, at the age when I could give myself a nickname, while others chose cute and sweet names, I chose “Da Greatest.” I chose “Da” because I knew I was different and wanted to stand out, and “Greatest” because I believed there was greatness in me.

It’s funny because, growing up, people always thought I was confident, but in reality, I was “faking confidence.” I didn’t truly believe it internally. My grandmother recently told me, “Ashley, you’ve always sold yourself short. I knew you were an intelligent woman, but you could never see it.” It wasn’t until I left my job of eight years and embarked on this journey of faith that I began to see the incredible woman God created me to be.

I started to view myself differently and believed that my childhood nickname came from God, who was telling me at a young age what I was destined for. Now, instead of seeing myself as less than, I see myself as worthy. I value who I’ve been created to be and the problems God created me to solve. I am no longer an imposter; I am a woman on a mission.

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?

“She is Fire Ash” is not just a brand; it’s a journey. I am a woman with many hats, gifts, and talents. I love all things media, from videography and photography to podcasting, copywriting, and content strategizing. At the core of everything I do is storytelling. I am a lover of stories and believe it is my purpose in life to not only share my story but also to empower others to tell theirs.

I help businesses elevate their brands by sharing their unique stories. A client can come to my company with an idea and leave with a compelling narrative and a well executed vision. I believe we are all influencers in our own right, and sharing that influence means connecting our stories with our community.

I recently left my job of eight years to follow God and pursue media full-time. I assist people with brand photography, portrait photography, and retelling love stories through wedding photography and videography. I also provide event Media coverage, content creator media, and client strategizing.

I’ve noticed that many people struggle with what to post on social media, so I created a service to help them focus on their business while I build a brand story blueprint that details a strategy for marketing their brand through media.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Determination. I have always possessed a determination to never give up. Even when I had no idea what I was doing or when things felt extremely hard, I maintained the mindset that I would succeed no matter how long it took. Every failure taught me how to get better at winning. I believe we must believe we can succeed and never stop fighting or trying. Even if you have to take a step back to regroup, never allow yourself to fully give up.

Patience. I used to think everything would happen all at once—or rather, I wanted it to. But over time, I learned that life is a journey, and we are always reaching toward a destination. Never get so caught up in how long it takes that you forget to embrace the journey and all the moments that come with it. I dreamed of having a podcast in 2016, but I didn’t experience it happening until 2023.

It’s okay to ask for help. For a long time, I tried to do everything on my own until I realized that I couldn’t do everything. Once I started asking for help, I noticed a significant difference and began making more progress.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

I would have to say my entire village—my parents, grandmother, grandfather, aunties, uncles, cousins, adopted family members, best friends, church family, and every stranger who became a friend or was adopted into my family—has shaped who I am. I’ve met so many people on my journey, and each encounter has made me better and contributed to the woman I am today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fireashmedia.com
• Instagram: sheisfireash
• Facebook: Ashley M Sanders
• Linkedin: Ashley Sanders
• Youtube: sheisfireash
• Other: Tiktok: sheisfireash

Image Credits

@Fireashmedia