We’re looking forward to introducing you to Ashley Viewins, M.S.. Check out our conversation below.
Ashley, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I’m most proud of building resilience and systems that keep me grounded. On the surface, people see my businesses, my teaching, and my coaching, but what they don’t see is the daily discipline it took to create structure where there was once chaos. I’ve built habits, routines, and mindsets that allow me to show up consistently for students, clients, and my community even during stressful seasons. It’s invisible work—early mornings, late nights, constant learning, and private sacrifices—but it’s what gives everything else I build the strength to last.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ashley Viewins, M.S., and I’m the founder of Sankofa: Education Consulting & Insurance as well as Holistically Fit. At the heart of everything I do is the belief that wellness and wealth go hand in hand. Through Sankofa, I partner with schools and families to strengthen literacy, math, and ABA strategies for students with exceptionalities, while also helping communities secure their futures through life, health, and wealth-building insurance solutions. With Holistically Fit, I coach busy professionals on how to build strength, confidence, and sustainable routines that transform both body and mindset.
What makes my work unique is that I don’t separate education, fitness, and finance—they are all tools for empowerment. I’ve built my brand around creating systems that help people invest in themselves, whether that means training teachers, supporting families, or coaching clients to reach their physical and financial goals. Right now, I’m focused on expanding Sankofa’s school partnerships and growing programs that blend literacy, ABA, and long-term wealth strategies, so that schools and families can thrive together.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was shy. I wanted people to choose me, to like me, and I often stayed quiet instead of showing who I really was. I struggled academically and didn’t find my footing until around the 4th grade. Back then, I didn’t recognize my gifts or see myself as someone with something valuable to offer. Looking back, that season shaped me—it gave me compassion for students who struggle and the drive to help others discover their strengths earlier than I did.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain when I realized that my story wasn’t just about me—it was a bridge for others. For a long time, I carried struggles quietly, trying to push through and appear strong. But the moment I began to share honestly about my challenges—academic setbacks, personal losses, and the pressure of starting over—I saw how it gave others permission to face their own struggles with hope. That shift turned my pain into purpose. Instead of being something I had to conceal, it became fuel for my teaching, coaching, and leadership. My resilience grew from the understanding that transparency builds connection, and connection creates impact.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies I’ve seen in both education and insurance is the idea that people can succeed while skipping over the hierarchy of needs. Maslow’s framework teaches us that growth starts with the basics—physiological needs like food, shelter, and health—then safety and protection, then belonging, esteem, and finally self-actualization.
Through my master’s degree in education and my experience working in schools, I learned how often students were pushed academically while their basic or emotional needs weren’t being met—making real progress almost impossible. In insurance and financial literacy, I’ve seen a similar pattern: families are encouraged to chase wealth without first securing protection. The truth is, you don’t have to choose one or the other. With the right strategies, like an IUL or Whole Life policy, families can protect their essentials and build wealth at the same time.
That’s what my work is about—helping people and schools build from the ground up. When the foundation is secure, growth in every other area becomes possible.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people tell the story of a woman who turned her struggles into systems that empowered others. Someone who started out shy, overlooked, and unsure of her gifts, but who grew into a leader who made sure no one else had to feel unseen. I want my legacy to be that I built bridges—between education and empowerment, between protection and prosperity, between wellness and wealth. That I poured into students, families, and communities so they could rise higher than I did. Most of all, I hope they say I left people better, stronger, and more confident in their ability to build a future for themselves and generations to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theashleyviewins.com
- Instagram: @k.mt_fitcoach @ashleyviewins
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-viewins-m-ed-b07b5899?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
Image Credits
Keto Nord
