Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Shareef.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ashley. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Entrepreneurship became a reality for me the day I realized I couldn’t be fulfilled working hard for someone else’s dream. This prompted me to soul search; analyzing my needs, wants and desires for life and a career. I figured I would just “try” freelancing… I started by moonlighting to build an initial client base. For 18 months, I would go to work from 9-5 PM, eat dinner, then work on side projects from 6 PM-2 AM. Once my freelance gigs equated to my monthly salary, I left corporate, moved back to Denver and pursued my business full-time.
“She’s crazy.” They said. “Don’t do it.” They said. But, I followed the tiny voice inside that kept saying: “You can always get a full-time job, but you won’t always have a window to chase your dreams.” I was confident in my creative talents, full of energy and relentless to make it work.
When I started, I took on my fair share of pro-bono projects to build my portfolio, and I would “cold” call/e-mail/approach other small businesses. Sometimes it worked… most of the time it didn’t. But, with the nuggets slowly came more projects and more clients. It was just last year that my design calendar was fully booked, and word of mouth had begun to work its magic. This year, AGD Studio celebrated its 8th birthday! The business is still a baby but has literally grown piece by piece.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Oye vey… how much time do we have? No. It has not been a smooth road… but, why do we expect it to always be like butter? Life is about ups and downs. It’s about good and bad. I try to remember it’s about balance, and I’ve come to realize most of my struggles come from a place of internal turmoil. With that, I would say: take the time to learn yourself so you can get out of the way when necessary, and let greatness unfold before your eyes.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into AGD Studio story. Tell us more about the business.
AGD Studio is known for branding strategy and marketing design amongst businesses, entrepreneurs and events. Our strongest value comes from a commitment to partnership. For me, this means “fit” as much as it does “relationship.” As a small business owner myself, I understand the entrepreneurial journey and offer mentorship, consulting and creative services that allow me to connect to my clients and their businesses across a range of stages. Our approach is “hands on,” which allows us to build brands focused on character, connection, and perspective.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
Finding a mentor really comes down to fit. Does this person offer a skill, relationship or professional clout that would serve you on your journey? There are different types of “mentorship” so be specific about what you’re looking for and how you and a mentor could add value to each other.
When it comes to networking, I have so many thoughts! Here are some methods I use when moving through a room:
— Set an intention for the event. Am I looking to casually grow my network? Or am I interested in a more formal, professional connection for business growth? Maybe I just needed to get out of the house. Recognize that there are more formal arenas where you might encounter mentors or professional crushes—and others… more casual. You might be surrounded by peers for creative or general industry networking.
— Challenge yourself to look for events where you will not be the smartest one in the room!
— Preparation! Prior to the event, think about how you’ll respond to the age old question… “So what do you do?” Be succinct, direct and highlight an area of yourself that they may be able to relate to. In that same vein, make sure you do your research on who else will be in attendance. Think through questions/topics/new information you’ll want to discuss with other attendees and, if they aren’t there, reach out via email to get connected for coffee (I find I’m always better with 1-1).
— When you arrive, mentally level the playing field… remind yourself that you deserve to be in that room and then confidently proceed to introduce yourself.
— Remember that you (sadly) won’t have a chance to meet it to everyone… and that’s okay. Trust that you will connect with the right people for whatever phase of life you’re at!
— My “go-to” before an event is the “Science of People” blog (https://www.scienceofpeople.com/networking) by Vanessa Van Edwards. Whenever I have nerves about being social or feel at a loss for how to approach people, I turn here! She has a great collection of question-starters, tips on how to authentically network and how to understand the idea of people as it applies to networking.
In my experience, networking is a blend of preparation and letting go of apprehensions. The best connections arise when you are truly interested in the conversation and the person!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ashleygaffney.com
- Email: hello@ashleygaffney.com
- Instagram: @agdstudio
- Facebook: @creativestudioashleygaffney
Image Credit:
Headshot: Backyard Ink Photography
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