She Turned Rejection Into ROI - And Now Everyone’s Listening | EP43

Most leadership stories start with a title. This one starts with a name people tried to weaponize. In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy Honeycutt sits down with Ashley T Brundage - a former homeless part-time bank teller turned national VP, political candidate, and now CEO of Empowering Differences. Ashley didn’t just navigate discrimination, transition, and poverty - she transformed it into one of the most dynamic leadership blueprints of our time. Her method is simple, but not easy: track power, own your differences, and use both to lead. This episode explores: Why “diversity” isn’t a checkbox - it’s a business development strategy How to dismantle fear-based inclusion programs and replace them with ROI-backed leadership pipelines What most companies get wrong about DEI (and why renaming it won’t fix it)How to navigate identity-based ignorance without retreating or retaliating Why socioeconomic class is the most overlooked dimension of inclusion What it really takes to campaign for office while being “othered” on every doorstep How Ashley scaled her impact by treating empowerment like a strategy, not a sentiment Ashley’s story isn’t about making people comfortable. It’s about making people capable - of leading with clarity, building across difference, and staying rooted in conviction when the spotlight turns political. This isn’t just a masterclass in equity. It’s a case study in courage. Chapters: 00:01:20 – How We Met and Why Ashley Stood Out   00:01:47 – Ashley’s Background Beyond the Bio   00:03:10 – What Happens When You Google Ashley T Brundage   00:04:19 – How Ashley Helps Teams Feel More Inclusive   00:08:07 – Ashley’s Journey from Homelessness to the C-Suite   00:18:49 – A Common Myth About the C-Suite Experience   00:20:07 – A Failure That Shaped Ashley’s Leadership Path   00:22:11 – Campaigning Stories and Leadership Lessons from the Field   00:27:42 – The Deeper Layers of Empowering Differences   00:33:55 – Final Thoughts and How to Engage with Ashley’s Work | Connect with Us | Learn more about Empowering Differences: https://empoweringdifferences.com/ Grab Ashley’s book and start empowering differences today: https://empoweringdifferences.com/product/empowering-differences-book/ Follow Ashley Brundage: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleytbrundage/ (Rebuilt from rock bottom and now equips leaders to recognize power, difference, and what’s really driving impact.) Follow Inside the C-Suite: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/ Subscribe on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/2gk39EvNtXLVHuAbp7tr6b Subscribe on Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-c-suite/id1739883160 Want to be on the show or know someone who might?  Contact Form – https://forms.gle/B1fVXPSV6b3x3AsS9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices