This Monday, we are featuring Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) member Ashley Soublet as part of our Member Monday series. Ashley is the JLC’s very first Executive Vice President and currently works for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Read more about the native Charlottean below.
1) Thanks for taking time to share some personal insights with us today. Can you give us some background information- tell me about your family and early years?
I was born and raised right here in Charlotte (yes, a unicorn!). My mother, younger brother and I mostly lived in East/Southeast Charlotte and the three of us are graduates from East Mecklenburg High School. I went to UNC Chapel Hill and moved back to Charlotte for two short years to work and save money for graduate school. I moved to the Raleigh/Durham area in 2005 to attend NC Central University where I earned my MA in Public Administration. While in Raleigh/Durham, I worked as a grant writer and later started federal service in human resources with the Environmental Protection Agency. I ended up living there for nine years before finally moving back to this area, because it’s home! I worked in human resources at UNC Charlotte for a few years and recently stepped back into federal service as a Human Resources Specialist with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
2) What is the best and worst decision you’ve ever made?
Best Decision: moving back to Charlotte! At the time, my grandmother had been recently diagnosed with lung cancer. I spent my teenage years living with my mother and grandmother which allowed me to bond with her in a unique way. After racking up almost 30,000 miles on my car in just a few months driving back and forth to see her, I knew it was time to make the move home. My grandmother fought hard another two years after I moved home. I am SO grateful for the time I was able to spend with her and the days I could drive over to the hospital after work and sit until bedtime to keep her company. Those are moments I would not have had if I weren’t here. Her passing has encouraged my family to spend more time together. For the most part, my mom’s side of the family are all local. I am able to make random stops by my mom’s house for dinner, or help my niece with her homework. I can attend my little cousins’ sports games and recitals, or catch a movie on the fly with my brother and sister-in-law. Family is everything to me and to be able to spend time with them whenever I want is amazing. I never take the time I can spend with them for granted and I think living away for so long makes me appreciate these moments, and convenient access, so much more.
Worst decision: I’ve made quite a few decisions that still have me kicking myself! It’s hard to pick an ultimate bad decision. But what I will say is that I don’t regret any of them. Every terrible decision I have made has taught me a lesson about life or who I am as a person; those decisions have shaped me in ways that have allowed me to make much better decisions for my life as I’ve moved forward.
3) What woman inspires you and why?
The two most influential women in my life are my grandmother and mother. These are the two women who have helped mold me into the person I am today. My grandmother finished her degree in her late 50’s, drove a 5-speed until she was 75, and spent her entire life serving others through various roles in church. Her faith was so incredible! I remember visiting her in her final months; a time when she was too sick to do anything on her own and was in unimaginable pain. She told me that each morning, when she saw the sun peek through the blinds, that she would thank God for allowing her to see another day. Most people in that circumstance would be so focused on their suffering but yet she still could always find the joy in every day. What an inspiration! My mother has been through a lot in her life and I have watched those struggles firsthand. But she too could always see past the circumstances at hand to persevere. She has taught me how to be a survivor, how to forgive, how to be of service to others, and how to find strength in yourself even when you’re not sure it’s there. They are two very inspiring women and I strive every day to make them proud.
4) From start to finish, what would your ideal day be like?
Those that know me well know that I love to travel! My ideal day would involve me waking up someplace that requires a passport stamp. Preferably on a beach with white sand and turquoise water. I’d have an omelet with jalapenos for breakfast and fresh pineapple juice. I would have a beach-side massage and spend the rest of the day relaxing and hanging out by the water. Somewhere in there would a lot of fruity drinks and some native cuisine. I would close the day with a family game night with my parents, brother, sister-in-law, aunts, uncles, and cousins!
5) What keeps you up at night?
Being the inaugural Executive Vice President of the JLC! I am truly honored and excited to take on this role, but anything unfamiliar is always a little scary. I keep hearing that managing the day-to-day operations is the hardest job in the League and I’ve lost a few winks thinking about what to expect. I expect the role to be challenging but I know it will also be rewarding. I am ready to take on this challenging role and set the stage for this position for years to come.
6) If you could tell your 23-year-old self one thing what would it be?
Live your life unapologetically. Do not make decisions for your life based on what other people may think. Do what is best for you. And most importantly: “No” is a complete sentence.
7) One thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
I am obsessed with puzzles. I complete the USA Today crossword puzzle every morning when I arrive at work. I complete two or three jigsaw puzzles a month and I only put them together inside-out. Doing the border first is cheating, in my opinion. Whether it’s Sudoku, brain games, word puzzles, tangrams, exit strategy rooms, etc. I love challenging my brain to solve problems and find logical solutions. I feel like puzzles keep my brain sharp and are weirdly relaxing.
8) How has the Junior League helped you develop your potential, taught you something unique, and/or given you an opportunity that you never would have had otherwise?
I came into the League wanting to build on my leadership skills. We tout this as a training organization and I have learned so much about myself and how to be a leader by taking on leadership roles and pulling on the wisdom of the amazing women in this organization. The level of support I have received from members along the way has been incredible; many of them have identified strengths in me that I didn’t even know I had. Their faith in my abilities gave me the confidence to pursue a role like the EVP position. The League has taught me the art of delegation and that it’s okay to lean on others for support. I joined during a time in my life when I wasn’t expecting to make new friends. Much to my surprise I have made some amazing new friends and cheerleaders. The connections that can be made in this organization are invaluable. Being around so many influential women in this community continues to inspire me to achieve great things and find ways outside of the League to leave my mark on the Charlotte community.
