Atlanta, GA – International business strategist and transformation leader Dr. Charlene Ashley has been named a 2025 Grind Pretty Honoree, joining a powerful cohort of women who are breaking ceilings and redefining leadership for women of color. Dr. Ashley, CEO of The Consultancy Inc., was the only honoree featured in a compelling two-page business profile in Grind Pretty Magazine, highlighting her cross-sector impact in financial management, marketing, organizational behavior, and international business development.
She now becomes only the second Jamaican woman to receive this prestigious honor—following Gold Olympian and media personality Sanya Richards-Ross, who was the first Jamaican recipient.
This year’s Grind Pretty honorees also included:
- Tamika Mallory, award-winning author and co-founder of Until Freedom, recognized globally for her viral speech during the George Floyd protests.
- Jewel Burks-Solomon, tech innovator and venture capitalist managing over $100 million in capital for Black founders.
- Ty Roberson, Senior VP at Wells Fargo and equity strategist at the Wells Fargo Foundation.
- Michelle Lopez, celebrity stylist whose work has appeared in Vogue, Vanity Fair, and on the red carpet.
“This honor is for every woman daring to start again. For every entrepreneur rebuilding after setbacks. For every average Jamaican from this tiny but mighty country—especially those who have faced pressure, injustice, or opposition. Let this be proof: you must keep showing up, keep building, and keep becoming—even when it feels impossible – this is your story and only you are author.”
With the audience visibly moved as her words resonated across the room, Dr. Ashley concluded her speech:
“This isn’t just my moment. This is our moment. This is not just for me—it is a reminder. A reminder that your lowest moments don’t define you—they refine you. Many of the successes I’ve experienced didn’t come after a clear runway—they came after resistance, after heartbreak, after illness, and after days when just standing up felt like an act of courage. But I learned that every breakdown contains the blueprint for a breakthrough. And it is in those very moments—when they think you’ve been buried—that you realize you’ve actually been planted.”
During the weekend-long celebration, dozens of attendees approached Dr. Ashley, expressing how deeply her words and her story had moved them. From aspiring founders to senior executives, many shared that her speech was one of the most inspiring moment of the event.
Back home in Jamaica, family and friends also gathered in celebration – not just of the award, but of the journey behind it. It was a collective reminder that with clarity, grit, and purpose, it’s possible to create something extraordinary – even when starting from nothing, even while standing in the face of adversity.
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Through The Consultancy Inc., Dr. Ashley has executed strategic transformation and led assignments across over 40 countries, and is now pioneering a scalable global franchise model. She leads a multi-disciplinary management consultancy focussed on advising government entities, corporations, and institutions on growth, innovation, business strategy and change management. She has recently been featured in Financial Services Review and other major publications for her role as a leading voice in business transformation and organizational change.
Dr. Charlene Ashley is an award-winning International Business / Organizational Behavior Consultant and Marketing Strategist, recognized for her work in strategy, transformation, and creating scalable business ecosystems across the globe and creating strategies for companies seeking to expand into international markets.
