Results

Innovation & Business Technologist

  • Led USAA’s Innovation Engineering teams in delivering over $140M in value, the execution of a new 5,000 sq. ft. Makerspace, and over 1,700 innovation activities per year.

  • Delivered innovative Conversational AI Search feature for USAA’s new mobile app.

Digital Transformation & Strategic Execution

  • Program Management owner of the Rackspace VMware portfolio, $700M+ in account revenue, and 65,000+ virtual machines.

  • Saved USAA over $45M annually with Virtual Agent product and spoke on my expertise at seven Conversational Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning focused conferences.

  • Led Product Management activities for AllClear Health ID’s new product including product-market validation, user experience testing, feature iteration, data-driven development, and pilot testing, resulting in a 22% lift in desired app actions.

Build & Enable High Performing Teams

  • During the Great Resignation, maintained above a 96% retention rate as Innovation IT Executive.

  • Technical program management leadership over 250+ employees and third parties that included over 30 different Agile teams and business units on one of the top priority initiatives for the CEO of Rackspace.

Customer & Vendor Management

  • Managed a $33M run rate business as Director of Strategic Accounts at Rackspace and utilized a relationship with a global SaaS client to develop a new product offering in partnership with AWS.

  • Established the first Memorandum of Understanding between Rackspace and VMware.

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Recommendations

  • “I can’t thank you enough for how great you’ve been as a colleague and teammate. I was excited when you were wanting to jump in and take on all the chaos that we have learning our way through product development and going to market as a start-up. Not only did you jump in and figure things out, but you did so with a sense of humor and genuine curiosity. You’re a great leader, and I’m so glad we got to work together. I do know that AllClear ID Health™ would not have made the same amount of progress without you and your leadership.”

    Jessica Smith - AllClear ID Health™, VP of Client Services - Client

  • “For the last 3 years, I've had the fortune to work side by side with Ashley in our Enterprise Digital Technology organization leading some of the best engineers and technologists in the industry. She is someone who not only brings a diverse product, sales and engineering background but also "level's up" any leadership team she is a part of. She is an empathetic leader, knows how to connect with her team and her peers deeply and is wicked smart and savvy when it comes to fusing innovation, technology and business together to achieve organizational business outcomes. She has become a trusted advisor for me and a voice of reason when I need to bounce an idea off of someone. I have learned so much from her leadership style and presence by being a peer of hers and I'm better for it.”

    Abram Maldonaldo - USAA Executive, Enterprise Digital Technology

  • “I learned so much working for Ashley. She is a very empathetic leader and does an exceptional job of evaluating and developing talent. She is very forthright with feedback and goes the extra mile to help understand and overcome blind spots. Ashley also has a good grasp of technology and the ever changing landscape. She has a keen eye for seeing market opportunities and pushes her teams to find innovative ways to provide value. I worked for Ashley for several years and would work for her again in a heartbeat. She is a rare gem.”

    Stacy Huggar - USAA Executive, Innovation

  • "Words can little describe Ashley’s value: “Amazing” is an understatement. Super smart, focused, emotionally intelligent (EQ), with a world-class ability to build cohesive teams, Ashley will deliver mission-critical initiatives. Laconic adulation is difficult; these meager words, to you, are disserving. Get to know this extraordinary person; she is precisely how she appears. She will bring a level of excellence into a role that is rare. With a demonstrable history of solving problems, she is the real deal. She acts with an unwavering resolve to be the best she can be. She will not disappoint. Effortlessly marshaling resources to deliver, her ability to dive deep, ask the right questions, and understand the situation is a recipe for success. And with her insane communication skills, she is in a league of her own."

    Shawn Decuir - Rackspace, Technical Program Management Leader

  • "Ashley is one of those rare leaders who understands people so well that she can find the best in them and magnify it. She is a strong leader who understands how to discover and pursue innovation that results in tangible benefits. She is a strong open thinker and inventor that will take business and programs into the next strategic phase and future. I have no hesitation in recommending her as a leader of leaders in any field where strong future and strategic thinking is needed."

    Brad Billman - USAA Leader, Engineering - Innovation

  • “Ashley is a great leader, but working with her makes you think of her first as a great teammate, friend and confidant. She has that rare ability to focus on executing a plan while at the same time focusing on people as individuals. She gets results from others because she is a clear communicator and engenders trust. We are still benefiting from the spirit Ashley helped start on our team.”

    Kevin Fiedler - USAA Employee, Conversational AI - Digital Product Lead

  • "She has been empathetic, encouraging, inclusive, and has allowed room for us to make mistakes and learn. She has inspired an entire division to strive for greatness following a difficult re-organization, while carving out time for individuals at all levels to develop a relationship with her. Most importantly when we dealt with the uncertainty of the last two years she led with heart and provided us all the grace required to figure out how to maintain productivity while balancing family. I’m extremely thankful for my time with Ashley as my leader and everything I was able to learn."

    Kevin White - USAA Leader, Engineering - Enterprise Digital Technology

  • "Servant Leader is a term we hear often, and as I reflect on all the leaders I had the fortune of working with, Ashley definitely comes on top as the best representation for this term. Ashley was able to build a culture of trust and empowerment shortly after coming on-board, and she managed to do this during a period where all team members were working remotely. She is one of those rare leaders that is able to inspire others to become a better version of themselves by fomenting an environment of healthy challenge and real accountability. Ashley was also the proponent of various initiatives in our team that later became adopted across sister teams. On a personal note, I had been wanting to explore AI and ML topics and Ashley worked with me on a 3-step plan that allowed me to do this in a balanced way. This resulted in 2 certifications and further exploration opportunities. If you're looking for a well-rounded, intelligent, and inspiring leader; look no further, Ashley is your top choice."

    Rene Hernandez - USAA, Innovation - Engineering Lead

  • "Ashley is by far the best leader I’ve ever worked with in my career. She challenged me to take on new initiatives that grew me as a leader and was always in my corner advocating for my career progression. Her thought leadership was integral in reviving our innovative culture and the way we worked. I love that through it all Ashley remains true to her values and leads with empathy, wisdom and foresight. "

    Shawnta Swindell - USAA, Innovation - Scrum Master Lead