Hi, I’m Ashley Jablow.
I’m Founder and Principal of Wayfinders Collective, a creative consultancy for individuals and organizations navigating questions of vision, purpose and strategy.
Through human-centered design consulting, one-on-one and group coaching, and virtual/in-person workshop facilitation, I partner with people and teams to envision the future they want to create and design actionable plans, programs or experiences to achieve it. I am also the creator of the online learning and small group coaching program, What Comes Next: Get Unstuck and Design a Career You Love.
Some of my recent clients have included the Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation at Georgetown University, Common Group, LUMA Institute, IDEO U, Teal Media, ICF, Council on Foreign Relations, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and others.
I first developed my design thinking and innovation skills at IDEO, the global design and innovation consultancy. As the first full-time hire for OpenIDEO, IDEO's open innovation platform, I wore many hats – including online community mobilizer, digital communications specialist, client steward, and design thinking facilitator. It was also at IDEO that I got my first taste of what it means to launch a minimum viable product and then co-design what it becomes with your community.
Previously I served in the Obama Administration as a Presidential Innovation Fellow working on design strategy and technology consulting projects. At the National Archives and Records Administration, I focused on leading the open design and development of technology to improve citizen discovery of and access to our nation's most valuable records. At the Environmental Protection Agency, my efforts centered on understanding the employee experience to uncover new opportunities to streamline process, reduce pain points, and support staff to successfully protect human health and the environment. As a PIF I also advised other Administration priority efforts, including leading the technical launch strategy for Open E-Books, a free e-reader mobile app launched in 2015 that enabled low-income children to access hundreds of thousands of children’s books at no cost.
Prior to launching Wayfinders Collective, I was Vice President, Development & Impact at Vizzuality, a Spanish design and technology consultancy using data to tell true stories and inspire action to improve our world. As Vizzuality's first U.S. hire, I was brought on to launch and lead the company's first U.S. office and team. Additionally I solicited, closed, led and advised client projects to ensure the company’s design, technology and data strategies were aligned with both client goals and with audience experiences and expectations.
I began my career in corporate philanthropy and nonprofit fundraising. I hold a BA in Sociology and Spanish from University of Michigan and an MBA in Marketing and Corporate Responsibility from Boston University. I am also a trained Co-Active Coach through the Coaches Training Institute and an official member of the Forbes Coaches Council.