Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Edwards.
Ashley, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Alabama and initially chose to stay in-state for college. I came from a progressive, creative community and spent nearly every spare moment immersed in the arts through competitive dance, cheerleading, theatre, and musicals. Storytelling through creativity was always something I loved.
When I started college, I intentionally stepped away from those creative pursuits, thinking I needed to follow a more “practical path.” Almost immediately, something felt off. At 19 years old, I already felt like I had missed my chance to pursue the dreams that excited me most.
Everything changed when I studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. Through leadership courses (and a few experiences that pushed me far outside my comfort zone, including jumping off a bridge and out of a plane), I learned one of the most important lessons of my life: fear is temporary, but regret is permanent.
That realization led me to take the biggest leap of faith I’ve ever taken. I moved to Orlando, Florida, transferred to the University of Central Florida, and began auditioning for theme parks to pursue my childhood dream of performing at Walt Disney World. It took years of hard work, persistence, and plenty of rejection, but by my early twenties, I had achieved that goal and performed professionally across all three major theme parks in Orlando.
At UCF, I earned my degree in Entertainment Management, one of the first cohorts in a brand-new program, and had the privilege of being mentored by Disney Legend Ronald Logan. I had a clear plan: I would continue performing at Disney, build relationships internally, and eventually transition into corporate Disney Communications. I was actively networking, training for new shows, and preparing for that next step.
Then March 2020 happened.
Like many people, my carefully planned path disappeared overnight. The pandemic taught me the second major lesson of my life: success isn’t about avoiding change. It’s about adapting when change finds you.
For the first time, I had the opportunity to ask myself an important question. I had achieved my dream, so what did I want to do next?
During that time, I returned to school and earned my Master’s degree in New Media and Marketing. I explored new interests in health and wellness, and started taking on freelance projects helping nonprofits and small businesses with social media strategy. Through those experiences, I realized that the thing I loved most about performing wasn’t being on stage, it was storytelling.
I also realized that storytelling exists far beyond entertainment: it lives in media, marketing, communications, and strategy.
That realization led me to UNATION in 2021, where I joined the team at Stuff to Do in Orlando. Over the past five years, I’ve grown from an entry-level employee into a leadership role, helping oversee creative strategy and content across Orlando, Tampa Bay, and Jacksonville. Today, I have the opportunity to tell stories not only about our company, but about the communities, businesses, and experiences that make these cities unique.
Along the way, I’ve continued saying yes to opportunities that challenged me. I’ve taught cycling classes, worked as a DJ and social media leader for nationally recognized Taylor Swift-themed events, appeared as a media spokesperson on local television, and built my own content platforms focused on pop culture commentary and analysis.
Looking back, the common thread throughout every chapter of my career has been storytelling. Whether I was performing in a parade, teaching a fitness class, appearing on live television, developing a marketing strategy, or creating content for an audience, I’ve always been motivated by the same thing: helping people connect with stories and experiences in meaningful ways.
Today, I’m at an exciting point in my career where I get to decide what the next chapter looks like. My goal over the next five years is to continue growing as a creative strategist and storyteller while finding opportunities that bring me back to the world that first inspired me: entertainment, media, and audience engagement.
If there’s one thing that defines my story so far, it’s the belief that passion is worth pursuing, adaptability is a superpower, and some of the best opportunities in life begin with the courage to say yes.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Ha. Smooth isn’t quite the word I would use.
I’ve changed my mind a lot throughout my life and career, and I’ve learned to follow those instincts to see where they lead. I’ve transferred schools, changed majors, moved states, and completely shifted career paths in pursuit of a dream.
None of those decisions came without challenges. Moving to Orlando meant leaving behind everything familiar and starting over in a brand-new city. Pursuing a career in entertainment meant facing constant rejection through auditions and learning how to stay resilient when the answer was “no.”
But the biggest challenge by far was COVID-19.
I had spent years building toward a very specific goal. I had uprooted my life, changed schools, changed majors, and worked tirelessly to build a career performing at Walt Disney World. I had a plan for what came next and was actively working toward it.
Then, almost overnight, that path disappeared.
What do you do when the dream you’ve spent years chasing is suddenly ripped out from underneath you? It’s a different feeling than rejection because it isn’t something you can improve upon or work harder to overcome. It simply feels outside of your control.
That was the question I wrestled with throughout the pandemic.
While many people understandably took the opportunity to slow down and wait for things to return to normal, I saw an opportunity to invest in myself. I focused heavily on my health, wellness, and education. I started running daily, incorporated yoga and meditation into my routine, and enrolled in a Master’s program in New Media and Marketing. At the same time, I began taking on freelance clients for social media strategy and content creation.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, I continued networking, building relationships online, and putting myself out there for new opportunities. Looking back, that period transformed me. I became stronger physically and mentally, expanded my skill set, and discovered strengths and interests I might never have uncovered otherwise.
When opportunity finally came knocking, I was ready for it.
The road certainly hasn’t been smooth, but every challenge taught me something valuable. The setbacks forced me to adapt, the uncertainty taught me resilience, and the obstacles pushed me to grow in ways success never could.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. The struggles helped shape who I am today, and I’m grateful for them because they’ve made me a stronger leader, a better storyteller, and a more confident version of myself.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My career has evolved quite a bit over the years, and I’ve held many different titles. But if I had to describe what I do in one word, it would be this: storyteller.
Storytelling has been the common thread through every chapter of my career.
Working as a performer in entertainment, I brought stories to life through shows, parades, and immersive experiences at theme parks. There is something incredibly powerful about watching an audience react in real time and seeing a story create joy, wonder, or connection.
As a cycling instructor, I learned that storytelling isn’t limited to entertainment. At 6 a.m., people don’t just need a workout. They need motivation, encouragement, and a reason to believe they can do hard things. The stories we tell ourselves shape our mindset, and I loved helping people discover what they were capable of.
As a DJ and MC for pop culture and Taylor Swift-themed events, I wasn’t simply playing music, I was helping create moments and memories. The best events become stories people tell for years afterward, and I loved being part of creating those experiences.
Today, my role is much more strategic, but the foundation remains the same. As a Creative Director and Strategist, I build marketing and media campaigns, lead creative teams, and bring ideas to life from concept through execution. I work closely with brands, communities, and audiences to identify what makes them unique and craft stories that resonate.
I specialize in creative strategy, entertainment marketing, social media, and pop culture-driven campaigns. I’m particularly passionate about understanding audiences, identifying emerging trends, and translating insights into content and campaigns that feel timely, relevant, and engaging.
What sets me apart is that I’ve experienced storytelling from nearly every angle. I’ve been the performer on stage, the host in front of the camera, the MC on stage, the creator behind the camera, the director behind the scenes, the editor behind the computer, the strategist developing the concept, and the leader guiding the execution. Because of that, I understand the entire creative process from idea to audience impact.
I’m known for being someone who can take an idea, even a half-formed one, and figure out where it should go. I connect dots quickly, see opportunities others might miss, and bring energy and enthusiasm to the creative process. If there’s a new challenge, a new project, or an opportunity to learn something different, I’m usually the first person to raise my hand.
What I’m most proud of isn’t any single title or accomplishment. It’s building a career that allows me to do what I’ve always loved: create stories, connect with people, and help bring ideas to life in meaningful ways.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My biggest piece of advice is to take chances and trust that things will work out, even if the path doesn’t look the way you expected it to.
When you’re first starting out, it can feel like every decision is permanent. The reality is that very few of them are. Change your mind if something isn’t right. Change your major. Change your city. Change your career path. You can always adjust course. In fact, some of the best opportunities in my life came from realizing I was on the wrong path and having the courage to try something different.
I’d also encourage people to follow their passions. The work that has brought me the most success and fulfillment has always been connected to the things I genuinely love. Passion creates curiosity, curiosity creates growth, and growth creates opportunity.
Most importantly, say yes. Say yes to opportunities, experiences, projects, and conversations. You never know which opportunity will lead to a new skill, a new friendship, a new job, or a completely different direction for your life.
Looking back, I wish I had worried less about having everything figured out and spent more time simply exploring. Your twenties aren’t about having all the answers, they’re about discovering who you are, what excites you, and what kind of life you want to build.
Take the chance. Follow the passion. Say yes. The path will reveal itself along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ashleynedwards.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xoxoashslay
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleynedwards0111
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleynedwards/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AsAshReadsIt
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/asashreadsit/
