February 2021 Featured Author of the Month... Ashley T. Brundage
Jan 13, 2021
The Infinite Power of You Book Club is excited to announce our February 2021 Author of the Month... Ashley T Brundage with her Book Empowering Differences!
About Ashley
Ashley T Brundage is the Founder and President of Empowering Differences. While seeking employment at a major financial institution, she self-identified during the interview process as a male to female transgender woman and subsequently was hired. She was offered a position and started as a part time bank teller and worked in various lines of business before moving to VP, Diversity and Inclusion in less than 5 years. Ashley recently celebrated 18 years of marriage to Whitney and together they have two biological sons; Bryce, 15, and Blake, 13.
Since beginning transitioning in 2008, she has worked tirelessly to promote awareness and acceptance of gender identity and expression. She works to accomplish this goal by volunteering in the community, and holding education sessions for corporations. She serves on the Corporate Advisory Council for the NGLCC-National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Also is the co-chair for NGLCC’s new global Trans+ Inclusion Task Force. She chaired the successful bid to host the NGLCC convention in 2019, and Visit Tampa Bay named her their Tourism Champion for 2017. In 2018, she started serving on the board of the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts.
In 2019, she was voted on the National Board of Directors for GLAAD. GLAAD works to accelerate acceptance for the LGBTQ+ Community through media advocacy. Ms. Brundage speaks locally and nationally about her transition, workplace equality, and leadership. She has also been interviewed in several publications and media outlets, including Tampa Bay Times, Watermark Magazine, Creative Loafing, The Tampa Bay Business Journal, The Miami Herald, Fox 13 News Tampa, ABC News 7 Ft Myers, CBS 10 Tampa, Las Vegas Review Journal, Milwaukee Biz Times, the Daily Beast, Fairygodboss, and a feature story with Bloomberg Businessweek in 2019.
Ashley has been recognized in many areas and has received numerous awards including: The University of South Florida 2014 Community Pride Award, 2015 St Pete Pride Grand Marshal, 2015 Commendation-City of Tampa, 2016 Tampa Bay Business Journal Business Woman of the Year, 2016 Voice for Equality Award from Equality Florida, and LGBT Leadership Award from the Florida Diversity Council. In 2017, she was awarded a Leadership Award from Metro Inclusive Health. Also in 2017 she was a winner of the Inaugural People First Award by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, and the TBBJ Power 100 list, the most influential and powerful people in business.
In 2018, she was given the Champion Award from international non-profit Out & Equal as well as named one of Florida’s Most Powerful and Influential Women from the National Diversity Council. In 2019, she was named one of the Top 40 under 40 in the LGBTQ community nationally by Business Equality Magazine, TBBJ Outstanding Voice for the LGBTQ community and the Inaugural Transgender Rising Star by Trans New York.
What kind of work do you do?
I work to empower others through leadership. This is helping to educate others on important topics but also to show that if I can overcome homelessness and start a job with no college degree as a part time bank teller and grow my career to be the VP of Diversity & Inclusion for a major financial services institution in less than 5 years then anything is possible.
You just launched your book recently, tell us about your book!
I outlined the 4 step process to empower your differences which will help you seize control of your leadership journey. More below....
Empowering Differences is the intentional action of using power and authority for yourself or others while positioning ways in which you are not the same as the people around you. Using your differences, what makes you unique, to empower yourself and others to move your career forward.
Follow author, Ashley T Brundage, as she puts Empowering Differences into action. She has been on her own journey of self exploration and was forced to find out how she fits into this world. She started her careers as a means of survival and has quickly risen through each position. She celebrated her authenticity, empowered herself, and others, to create a stronger community.
Incorporating the 10 key empowering actions covered within this book, Ashley advanced her career from a part time bank teller to a vice president of the national diversity and inclusion team at a major financial services corporation in less than 5 years. Everyone’s journey will look different, but these methods can produce similar results and the takeaways of the book can be applied to anyone.
Take the first step to accelerate your career by empowering your differences.
What inspired you to write it?
I was asked so many times how I was able to ascend to VP of D&I from part time bank teller in less than 5 years so I figured that was the book I needed to write. So I worked to capture how I was able to do that combined with what I had written about overcoming homelessness and surviving transition.
What did you enjoy most about the writing process?
It was writing the first and last words of each chapter. I am a big believer that you need to start and finish strong in anything and everything you do. First hour and last hour of the day is when you can own everything. Then I would say recording the audiobook which is in post production was also really fun. ( I will share an empowering moment on this for a virtual launch event or FB live discussion)
What was the most exciting moment after it was published?
Getting the copyright and then having my book in the library of congress was really exciting for me, I guess it was the security of my intellectual property that was so thrilling. Of course connecting with readers and support from my network has also been very empowering.
What do you hope readers will takeaway?
That the foundational concept of empowering differences can be used for all things that you do. Of course it is leaning towards self help and career guidance but honestly these key takeaways build better relationships and strengthen the community where you live.
What inspired you to get started as an entrepreneur?
I was being asked to speak and educate so often and had actually built a speaking and training business without a book which I guess is not the normal way of functioning. Then I was volunteering with the NGLCC- National LGBT Chamber of Commerce as their co-chair for the new global transgender and gender non conforming task force to drive economic empowerment for entrepreneurs. Then, in that moment, I needed to take my own advice I was giving others and create an actual business entity. Then with my business created and certified as a diverse owned business, I worked to amplify the message of certification and was able to help grow the certification process for my community by 400 percent!!! Empowering eh?
What was your biggest struggle to get things going for your online business?
All the plugins!!! AHHHH!! Also choosing all the different software for everything. Glad I have an amazing wife who is right by my side leading that effort!
Was there a time you thought about giving up? What kept you from quitting?
WOW! YES! And when I say giving up, I mean I contemplated ending everything but honestly "Ashley's Allies" literally saved my life. Having Whitney, and our boys, Bryce and Blake was all I needed to keep fighting for more in this world. Allyship really matters and just being there for someone can really save their life.... for real..... :)
What have you learned since beginning?
Nothing comes easy, you have to fight for every inch in this world. Even if something is handed to you that can have strings attached. So be careful, as your success is going to grow, people will be coming to try to knock you down.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable. My first manager taught me that, sends a ripple of effects when you are not early. In this era of virtual events/meeting ending at the same time the next one starts it requires you to have a great deal of calendar coordination to organize this to make early a priority.
What advice would you give someone just starting out?
I would recommend that you take the self assessment tied to my book via the Empowering Differences Workbook and online course. This is really key to Empowering Differences, and why Knowing Yourself is step one in the 4 step process.
What’s the professional win you’re most proud of?
Being named to the Power 100 in Business in my home town city from 2017. I had won numerous women and LGBTQ+ awards as well as awards at my day job but being on this list next to the owner of the professional hockey team was a game changer. I was on this list from all my purposeful engagement and community volunteerism in my community.
Is there a book you’d recommend to help with success and personal development?
Well besides your book and mine, I actually loved How the World Sees You by Sally Hogshead, who wrote the foreword for my book :)
Do you have a routine that you attest to your success? If yes, what is it?
Besides the first and last hour of the day as I mentioned earlier. I actually invest in good hair weeks... I used to spend so much of my time blow drying and styling hair each and everyday that it was draining me so I now have recurring appointment with my stylist for blowouts every other week and then I can focus my energy more on creating empowerment for others.
How has social media played a factor in your success?
This is a tricky one and is very tough, I think it is important of course but not something that I would use my first or last hour for during my day. I think it has become increasingly polarizing so you have to keep your health in mind tied into how you use social media.
What are the biggest social media mistakes you see commonly made?
I actually reference this in my book in chapter 12, around separating your brand from an employer you may have and how it is important to grow and maintain your success separate from their success.
What is the business tool that’s been most helpful?
Speaking of social media.... social media schedulers are amazing!! :)
Is there something you wish everyone knew?
How all diversities are stronger together. The civil rights act of 1964 was created to stop discrimination of black people and others but has been the catalyst in so many other civil rights wins from sex discrimination to now LGBT workplace discrimination in 2020. Other diverse people owe a great debt of gratitude to leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
What’s coming up for you in the next few months?
A bunch of podcasts, corporate engagements, and national conferences. Have a few really neat projects that are currently on hold with the pandemic but I can wait on them since they will be worth the wait. (we can talk on these too)
What has being successful taught you?
To never forget that it can all be taken away in a moments notice so to enjoy and soak it all in each and every day, the good and the bad. Also the importance of those allies in your life, invest as much as you can in them.
What are some fun facts about you?
My sister lives in Thailand with her 2 boys and they play video games with my boys on the weekends as one is in the morning and the other in the afternoon being on the other side of the world. I was in the French honor society in high school and actually retained about 30 sayings but have not yet been to France. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for going on 19 years and we have been together for 24 years. I began living authentically by transitioning my gender in 2010 when I realized I was going to have to start my career over at the bottom and couldn't make it one more day hiding myself from the world.
Join us in The Infinite Power of You Book Club as we dive into Ashley's Incredible Book!!!
Grab a Signed Copy From Ashley (US Only)!
Not in the USA -or- have a gift card to use up? Order Your Copy From Amazon!
Connect with Ashley:
@ashleytbrundage on all social media
@empoweringdiff on all social media
*Some clickable media, usually the book recommendations, are affiliate links, and should you choose to buy through using those links then The Infinite Power of You Inc. may earn an affiliate payout commission. This is at no additional expense to you, and helps keep this blog going.
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