Next Gen Now Summit Speaker Spotlight: Cash Ashley

On October 30, the Next Gen Now Summit takes place virtually and in-person in Washington DC. Featuring 25 thought leaders, policy experts, and community innovators, the Summit is focused on solving critical challenges at the intersection of work, education, and leadership.

XYZ University's CEO, Sarah Sladek, organized the Summit to gather and share best practices on workforce trends, engagement strategies, and reaching the next generation. Speakers include leaders from organizations trailblazing the future -- and over the course of the next two weeks, we're featuring insights from the amazing line-up of speakers here on our blog.  

Stay tuned! And for more information or to register, visit: https://nextgennowsummit.com/.

Cash Ashely is an Enterprise Senior Sales Representative at AWS, as well as an emotional intelligence keynote speaker.

Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that shaped your approach to building inclusive cultures?

Leading the overnight team at Target was eye-opening. It showed me that inclusion goes way beyond what we typically think about. Seeing how different the day and night cultures were taught me that creating belonging is about seeing and valuing all the different ways people show up in spaces. It also hit me how easy it is to overlook inclusion at a more granular level when we're only focused on the common categories like race and gender. This experience really drove home the importance of considering all aspects of diversity, even the less obvious ones, to create truly inclusive environments.

How does your upcoming session align with the summit's mission to foster belonging across generations?

We're going to dive deep into emotional intelligence and how it fundamentally shapes belonging. Think about it - when people can understand their own emotions and effectively manage them, while also being aware of others' emotions, that's when real connection happens. I'm excited to help people understand the stages of psychological safety - from inclusion safety to learner safety to contributor safety to challenger safety. When people have the language to name what they're experiencing and the tools to navigate these emotional spaces, they can create environments where everyone feels seen and valued. This work becomes even more critical as we face increasing uncertainty and change in our workplaces.

What key takeaway do you hope attendees gain from your presentation?

I want people to walk away understanding that emotional intelligence isn't just another corporate buzzword - it's a fundamental skill that can help them be the best version of themselves. As we advance technologically with things like generative AI, our ability to tap into our emotions, understand how we feel, and shift those feelings toward productive outcomes becomes even more crucial. This is about equipping people with practical tools to create meaningful change in their communities and workplaces, while helping them find solace and comfort in a constantly changing world.

What is the most pressing challenge organizations face in engaging younger generations today?

We're living in an attention economy where algorithms are constantly competing for young people's focus. The real challenge for organizations is positioning themselves as genuine catalysts for growth. Young people need to see themselves as the heroes of their own stories within these organizations, and that requires a major shift in how we think about engagement and community-building.

What emerging trends do you believe will significantly impact intergenerational collaboration in the next five years?

As everything around us becomes more autonomous and AI-driven, emotional intelligence is going to become even more crucial. Your ability to understand and manage your own emotions while connecting with others will be what sets you apart. In a world of constant change, these human skills become your superpower.

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