Dr. Charlene Ashley is a visionary leader with nearly three decades of experience in the consultancy field. Having built her business from the ground up, she has successfully navigated the challenges of corporate culture, scaling, and international expansion.
Driven by a passion for strategic objectives and financial independence, Dr. Ashley now leads her firm toward global franchising, emphasizing disciplined systems, technological integration, and unwavering excellence. Her insights offer valuable guidance for aspiring entrepreneurs and established leaders alike.
What inspired you to start your own business? And what problem are you trying to solve?
I was inspired by a desire for focus and financial freedom. Corporate culture often prioritizes internal competition over achieving set objectives. I find great joy in strategically setting and meeting clear goals. Starting my own business nearly 30 years ago allowed me to escape the “rat race” and concentrate my energy on delivering real results, aligning my personal drive for success with the organization’s direct outcomes.
How did you decide it was the right time to scale? And what advice do you have for others?
We knew it was time after rigorously preparing. I began treating my own business like a client, implementing disciplined systems and standard procedures to ensure everything was repeatable. Essential steps included securing trademarks, legal reviews, and packaging our decades of experience into a scalable, affordable model. My advice is to first build a solid, systematized foundation; scaling is a natural step once your operations are structured for success and can be reliably replicated by others.
Many say women have to work twice as hard to succeed. Have you faced this? And what advice do you have for women in leadership?
Absolutely, especially in male-dominated sectors like agriculture. My approach is to be impeccably prepared and remain professional, not emotional. Focus on the objective, cut through the clutter, and leverage your innate strengths like intuition and detail orientation. My advice is to stay curious, humble, and in learning mode. Success comes from a laser focus on the goal, not from reacting to biases. You can’t deposit emotions in the bank, but you can deposit results.
How do you introduce new ideas to your clients while keeping a business financially stable?
Balance is key. While I nurture creativity and innovation naturally, it must be grounded by strategy. We listen to client pain points, then cross-reference them with our research. We use a balanced scorecard, constantly evaluating four quadrants: internal systems, customer delivery, financial health, and innovation. This ensures that new ideas directly address client needs while also supporting top-line and bottom-line objectives like profitability and brand building, maintaining crucial financial stability.
What role has mentorship played in your career, and how can it benefit new entrepreneurs?
My first mentor taught me to trust my intuition and back my ideas with diligent work. He called my gut feeling a “pearl” to nurture. Now, as a long-serving mentor myself, I see its immense value. Mentorship isn’t about being told what to do; it’s a relationship that encourages you to be your best. For any entrepreneur, finding someone who has navigated the path before provides invaluable perspective, encouragement, and wisdom that accelerates growth.
Before expanding internationally, what should your clients consider?
Clients must conduct thorough market research on demand, competition, and regulations. Legal compliance is crucial—secure all necessary licenses. Evaluate financials: business model, costs, pricing, and currency impacts. Tailor marketing and branding to be culturally relevant, often by involving local talent. Most importantly, ensure your team has the competency to manage the expansion without neglecting domestic performance. Strategic planning and capable staffing are the bedrock of successful international growth.
That’s great advice. Now, where do you see your consultancy evolving in the next five to ten years?
In five to ten years, I see us as a global benchmark in multidisciplinary consultancy, rivaling the major firms. Through franchising, we plan to expand into key markets like the USA, India, and Africa. Our differentiator is unwavering excellence: our consultants have master’s degrees and 15-20 years of experience. Critical to this growth is our investment in technology, leveraging analytics and a proprietary platform to boost efficiency and provide superior diagnostic tools for our clients and franchises worldwide.
Be’n Original | Photo Credit: Dr. Charlene Ashley
