Ashley Hawkins

Ashley Hawkins is a keynote speaker and advocate for developing leadership through adversity. Drawing from her own experiences navigating significant life challenges, Ashley shares powerful insights on resilience, perseverance, and personal growth.

Her message encourages individuals and organizations to reframe adversity as an opportunity to build stronger leadership, deeper purpose, and lasting impact. Through engaging storytelling and practical strategies Ashley equips audiences with the tools to overcome obstacles, strengthen their leadership voice, and lead with confidence especially during difficult seasons.

Ashley's mission is to inspire people to rise beyond their circumstances and discover that adversity can become the foundation for extraordinary leadership.

Ashley is uniquely qualified to teach and inspire others through difficult seasons due to her unprecedented life trajectory: from humble beginnings in Central Kentucky to her military service in Iraq - where her bravery and resolve made her the first woman in American military history to receive a Bronze Star with Valor for combat action. She would be impressive if her story ended there, however she came home to the battles of the homeland, including a divorce, becoming a single mother and earning her college degree in this period. Then came cancer, with four children in the household and pregnant with a fifth, Ashley was diagnosed with Stage 2B breast cancer. She endured surgery and chemotherapy treatments while still pregnant. Her dedication and strength, following the lessons that served her to this point, have allowed Ashley to emerge from cancer treatment and she is now in remission.