Biography -
Ashley Derby is the Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A at USC, located in Los Angeles, California. At the age of 26, she became the youngest, female, African American to be awarded a Chick-fil-A franchise. She started her career with Chick-fil-A at the age of 15, as a restaurant team member in her hometown of Marietta, Georgia. She went on to graduate from Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Ashley has used her entrepreneurship to empower other women to help fulfill their business goals. In 2013, she traveled on behalf of Chick-fil-A to economically under-developed countries in Europe to speak to women about business ownership and best practices as a means to achieve economic stability. In 2014, Ashley coordinated and led one of the first Chick-fil-A business retreats specifically geared toward female franchise owners. Ashley was also selected as one of the 2015 Root 100 for her achievements, and influence within Los Angeles. Ashley is heavily involved with Hollywood Young Life, an organization that exposes urban youth to Christian values as a means to encourage them to attain life goals.
Ashley recently celebrated 5 years of marriage with her husband Brian, and enjoys traveling, cooking and yoga.
Ashley recently celebrated 5 years of marriage with her husband Brian, and enjoys traveling, cooking and yoga.
Convocation Speaker Interest -
Since college, I've had time to use the lessons I learned matriculating through our beloved Spelman. I have considered my life's ministry opportunities, and have realized that sharing my story is one of them. With maturation, I recognize the very platform I feared is my opportunity to inspire and share the value my Spelman degree provided me. Many young women will face the same challenges that I did. It is incumbent upon each of us to offer them guidance with the force of life experience, and to honor Spelman by showing them that their lessons were put to use.
