THE LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON: ASHLEY MCDONOUGH

1. Where were you born and raised; current city; family; hobbies; past business highlights...
I was born and raised in Queens, New York and currently reside in Los Angeles, CA, but since I travel often, I like to consider the world my home (LOL). Growing up a first generation American, I developed my love for travel early on and knew my growing passion would one day be my career path. Growing up with a bicultural experience from New York life to island life etc., I began to appreciate the little things like a good cultural dish, the beach or a quick getaway. Having traveled worldwide, even living in Spain for a year while studying at Howard University, I knew my love for travel was much bigger than me and knew my purpose on this earth was to help others create those same experiences for themselves all while creating an income and legacy from it. Fast forward to 2019, I became an entrepreneur, launching a travel app, Melanin On the Map, the FIRST travel app dedicated to people of color.

2. How have you grown or personally developed since joining PlanNet?
I have grown so much since joining PlanNet Marketing, it's unbelievable! Granted, I was already an entrepreneur before joining the PlanNet family; however, PlanNet has helped me focus more, prioritize my day and schedule, and overall pushed me even further into leadership amongst my growing business.

3. What drives you; what motivates you?
I am constantly motivated by a combination of my past and my future. Seeing where I came from and the generations before me to where I am now and where I'm headed, motivates me every single day! The fact that I watched my parents move to this country, working for years for someone else, and I had the privilege to choose a different route and pursue my dreams while building a legacy I CHOOSE, never goes unnoticed. My path, my business, my career is so much bigger than me and having watched how fast my business continues to grow in just the first year proves that to me. Melanin On the Map is something everyone needed, God just blessed me with the vision for it.

4. Who would you consider a role model and why?
There are so many amazing women I admire but I would have to say my mother. My mother is one of the kindest, most independent, hardest working women I know, and watching her over the years has taught me so much as a woman.

5. The three words that describe you best are:
Resilient, God-fearing and Ambitious.

6. If you had some sound advice to give to anyone what would it be?
If I was to give advice to anyone, it would always be just go after your dreams, the biggest one, the scariest one, that's the only one that matters! We all have one life to live, and when it's all said and done I hope we can all look back and be satisfied with our choices.

7. What does your life look like five years from now?
In five years at age 31, my life looks like reaping the benefits of all these years of hard work. I plan to live bi-coastal (which I'm currently working towards), I will have expanded Melanin On the Map on a global scale, become a wife, a mother and continue to celebrate all the success I've worked so hard for!