Supporting women from coast to coast

Meet Women’s Network leader and product manager Ashley Nevins ’16S (MS)

Share a bit about yourself! What are you up to now?

I am a New Yorker turned Californian with a business degree from Simon Business School and undergraduate degrees in chemistry and biology from Boston University.

Though I started my career in sales at Eli Lilly, I eventually found my way into product management and have worked for companies like WebMD and Ancestry. Last year, I launched my own product management consulting business! Now, I have the entrepreneurial bug and am looking into opening a tea shop – more to come on that soon.

I am incredibly passionate about supporting other women and helped found the University of Rochester Bay Area Women’s Network in early 2020. We were lucky enough to hold our in-person inaugural event right before lockdown. I am also the co-chair of our Women’s Regional Networks across the country and am an active advisor of the Simon Product Management Club.

When I’m not working or volunteering, you can find me taking long walks with my two German Shepherds, wine tasting, traveling to new places, or working out on my Peloton. A dream day would combine all 4…though it’s proven difficult to fit my dogs and my bike in my suitcase.

What are your most cherished memories from your time at the University of Rochester?

I think many of us will agree that the people of the University are what make it so special. I met some of my best friends while studying at the University, and I married a fellow alumnus. For me, there is no single cherished memory of the University. Quite the opposite, I think about all the special experiences I have had and continue to have with the incredible people I met through the University. Rochester isn’t a moment in time for me…it’s more of a continued, special experience.

How did campus life and any co-curricular involvement (clubs, organizations, teams, etc.) impact your personal and professional growth?

During graduate school, my cohort regularly went out for drinks and snacks after long days of class. Sometimes, professors would join us. I happened to be sitting across from our professor one day and he listened in as I spoke to another student about a business idea I had. The professor turned to me and said, “I’d invest if you were to pursue that idea.” At that time, I hadn’t seen myself as a business leader. I initially laughed at his comment but ended up using the idea in my final project at Simon. Though I ultimately decided not to pursue this business outside of academia, the professor’s validation of what I saw as a “crazy dream” is always in the back of my mind. In fact, it’s helped to give me the confidence to pursue my tea shop venture.

The casual nature of these after-class team get-togethers fostered a discussion I never thought I’d have, a discussion that serves to remind me again and again that I can make my dreams a reality if I choose.

Did the University offer any resources or initiatives that helped you transition smoothly into the workforce?

My transition from the University was a unique whirlwind. I finished my graduate studies almost simultaneously with my move to California. Because I was already a working professional when I decided to get a graduate degree, my transition was less about entering the working world and more about moving from one chapter of my life in New York to another in California. California was wholly unknown to me – I had visited only once before and knew no one in the area besides my husband. I was introduced to the associate director of alumni relations in the Bay Area almost immediately after my move. She began introducing me to fellow alumni in the area right away. I shared my desire to develop a women’s alumnae network on the West Coast, and she helped me realize that vision. Before I knew it, I had a robust support network in the Bay Area, and I was leading the Women’s Network focused on providing that same support to other women in our area.

What sparked your initial interest in volunteering with the University? What role(s) have you held?

While living in New York, my mother-in-law (a fellow alumna) invited me to a NYC Metro Women’s event that she was helping lead. This was before my time in graduate school at the University, and I accepted the invitation primarily as a show of support for my family. The event featured a panel of women talking about their experiences connecting with other women at different stages of life, and it really resonated with me. The honesty of the panelists and the warmth of the audience were unlike anything I had previously experienced. The event was like a hug for the soul, and I was hooked on this amazing group.

When I eventually moved to California, I quickly realized that there was no similar alumnae network in the area, and I had to change that. In addition to my role as the founder of the Bay Area Women’s Network and now co-chair of the Women’s Regional Networks across the country, I am an advisor of the Simon Product Management Club and have also volunteered in the National Leadership Committee. I have even tried my hand at managing the Bay Area alumni social media accounts in partnership with a few other alumni.

What advice do you have for fellow alumni and friends who may be interested in taking a more active role in our alumni and friends’ community?

Jump in and participate your way! I’ve spoken to many people who want to be more involved but don’t think they have the time to commit at the level “required”. There is no minimum or maximum time requirement to get involved, and there is no single way to be active. You could help organize a single activity, help lead an affinity group, or simply attend a local event. You can increase or decrease your level of participation at any time based on the ebbs and flows of life. Get to know alumni relations teams at the University and work with them to find the engagement type and amount that works best for you.

What’s the most rewarding part of staying connected with your alma mater?

As I look back on my life thus far, I feel incredibly grateful for the people who helped me become who I am today. I owe much of my career success to others who said “yes” to my requests for mentoring, “yes” to network intros, “yes” to informational interviews…These people were often strangers or loose connections.

It’s very important to me that I pass this generosity and kindness forward to the younger people of today. Staying connected with the University provides me with ongoing opportunities to support current students and recent graduates. Thank you, University of Rochester!