In Episode 14, they interview

Ashlee Willis:

Ashlee Willis is the founder and CEO of Michigan Premier Events, an award-winning event management company specializing in corporate, association, government and community events throughout Michigan. With more than a decade of experience, Ashlee helps organizations create impactful experiences that strengthen relationships, foster collaboration and support business and community growth. A dedicated community leader and advocate for local businesses, she co-founded Lansing Lift Up Local and has served in leadership roles with several regional organizations, including ATHENA WIN and Delta Township Economic Advisory Board. Her work has earned her numerous honors, including the Entrepreneur on the Move Award and the Ten Over the Next Ten Award.

Questions:

1. You founded Michigan Premier Events more than a decade ago. What inspired you to start your own business, and what has surprised you most about the journey?
2. As an entrepreneur in the events industry, you’re responsible for bringing big ideas to life while managing countless moving parts. What has running your own business taught you about leadership that you might not have learned in a traditional corporate role?
3. You’re deeply involved in initiatives that support local businesses and strengthen the Lansing community. Why is giving back such an important part of your leadership philosophy?
4. As a woman business owner and community leader, have you faced challenges that changed how you approach leadership or advocate for yourself?
5. What advice would you give a woman who has a great business idea or wants to pursue a leadership opportunity but is hesitant to take that first step? 

Show notes:

Every successful business has a story, and for Ashlee Willis, that story is one of following her passions, embracing unexpected opportunities, and continuing forward even when the answer is no.

In a recent episode of Bold LeadHERs, Ashlee shared insights from her professional journey, her experience building a business and the lessons she has learned about leadership, preparation and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people.

Ashlee’s professional journey didn’t follow a straight line. Although she studied nursing, she always had a passion for the arts, including painting, photography, and pottery. She also had a genuine interest in people and took business courses that helped lay the groundwork for her future endeavors.

After meeting her husband at Michigan State University, Ashlee began her career in banking. Later, she stepped away from her professional role to stay home and raise her children. That season of life became the starting point for something new: a floral arrangement business that would help shape the career she has today.

Her story is a reminder that sometimes the experiences that seem separate from our ultimate goals become the very things that prepare us for what comes next. A passion, a skill, or an unexpected opportunity can become the foundation for a new direction.

Building a business requires more than a great idea. It takes patience, persistence, and the willingness to keep going when things don’t happen as quickly as you hoped.

For Ashlee, hearing “no” was part of the process. Rather than allowing rejection to stop her, she continued moving forward. Her business grew significantly through word-of-mouth referrals, demonstrating the value of building relationships, delivering quality work, and allowing a strong reputation to create new opportunities.

Her experience offers an important lesson for aspiring entrepreneurs and women pursuing leadership roles: progress doesn’t always happen overnight, and setbacks don’t have to define the outcome. Sometimes, success comes from continuing to show up and trusting that consistent effort will lead to new possibilities.

In event planning, unexpected challenges are inevitable. What matters is how a leader responds.

Ashlee emphasized the importance of staying calm under pressure, explaining that people look to the event planner for reassurance. When the person leading the event remains composed, it helps everyone else feel more confident that things are under control.

Her approach centers on a few key principles: keep smiling, give people grace, and always have a backup plan.

Preparation is equally important. Anticipating what could go wrong and thinking through solutions ahead of time can help prevent small issues from becoming larger problems. And when challenges do arise, having a dependable support team and a strong foundation in place makes it easier to respond effectively.

These lessons extend well beyond event planning. In any leadership role, a calm presence, thoughtful preparation, and trust in your team can make a meaningful difference when navigating uncertainty.

When asked what advice she would offer a woman with a business idea or a desire to pursue a leadership opportunity who is hesitant to take the first step, Ashlee highlighted the value of mentorship and networking.

Her recommendation is to find a mentor who is doing similar work, is connected to the professional network you hope to enter and has reached a level you aspire to achieve.

She also encouraged women to challenge themselves to reach the next level and take advantage of networking opportunities within their communities. These events can help women build meaningful connections, discover potential mentors and learn from people who have navigated similar challenges.

Having someone to learn from can help make an unfamiliar path feel more achievable. Just as importantly, being willing to step outside your comfort zone can open doors you may not have considered before.

Ashlee Willis’s journey illustrates that careers and businesses don’t always develop according to a predetermined plan. Sometimes, a new chapter begins when life takes an unexpected turn. Sometimes, growth comes from pushing through rejection. And sometimes, the next opportunity begins with a conversation or a connection made through your community.

Her insights reinforce a powerful message for women in business and leadership: keep moving forward, prepare for the unexpected, build a strong support system and seek out people who can help you grow.

Because taking the first step may feel uncertain, but it can also be the beginning of something extraordinary.

Listen to the latest episode of Bold LeadHERs to hear more of Ashlee Willis’s story and insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and pursuing new opportunities and be sure to stay connected with her at Website: www.MichiganPremierEvents.com 

Social Media: @MichiganPremierEvents.com on FB, Instagram and LinkedIn

Michelle Gilbert:

Michelle Gilbert is the founder of Purple Engine Coaching & Consulting and an ICF-certified executive coach with more than 30 years of experience in corporate communications, including leadership roles with Fortune 50 companies. She helps professionals strengthen their executive presence, build confidence, navigate difficult conversations, and communicate with clarity and impact. Drawing on her extensive corporate leadership experience, Michelle provides practical strategies that empower individuals and teams to grow as authentic, effective leaders.

Questions:

1. What inspired you to leave corporate leadership and launch your own business?
2. When did you have to learn to speak up and trust your expertise?
3. What communication habits can hold women back professionally?
4. What is executive presence, and how can women develop it authentically?
5. What practical advice would you give women who second-guess themselves?

Show notes:

Building a successful career requires more than expertise. It also takes the confidence to communicate your value, advocate for yourself and embrace opportunities before you feel completely ready.

In a recent episode of Bold LeadHERs, Michelle Gilbert, founder of Purple Engine Coaching & Consulting, shared insights from her journey from public relations to entrepreneurship, along with practical advice for women looking to strengthen their communication skills, build confidence and advance professionally.

Her message is clear: you don’t have to know everything or feel completely ready to take the next step. Sometimes, growth begins when you recognize the value you already bring to the table.

Michelle began her career in public relations before making the transition to entrepreneurship. Taking the leap to build her own company came with challenges, but it also gave her the opportunity to pursue something deeply meaningful to her: helping people grow.

Although entrepreneurship hasn’t always been easy, Michelle views it as a rewarding journey and an opportunity to bet on herself. Her experience highlights the courage it takes to step into the unknown, trust your abilities and build something of your own.

Through her work with Purple Engine Coaching & Consulting, Michelle creates customized programs designed to meet the needs of the people and organizations she serves. Her work includes partnering with state governments and supporting efforts to help people develop professionally.

She has also seen the challenges families face when young adults struggle to find their first jobs. These experiences underscore the importance of developing the communication skills, confidence and professional tools that help people navigate the workplace and pursue new opportunities.

At the heart of Michelle’s work is a consistent passion: helping others recognize their potential and grow into it.

One of the most important topics Michelle addressed was the role communication plays in professional growth, particularly for women.

She identified one habit that can hold women back: not speaking up, especially when it comes to advocating for themselves.

Women may be comfortable highlighting the accomplishments of their teams or colleagues but find it more difficult to communicate their own contributions. Michelle emphasized that advocating for yourself doesn’t have to mean bragging. Instead, it means being prepared to share the facts about your accomplishments and the value you bring.

Knowing how to articulate your impact is an important professional skill. Whether you’re pursuing a promotion, interviewing for a new role, or contributing in a meeting, being able to communicate your achievements clearly helps others understand your capabilities.

Michelle also highlighted the tendency to overexplain. Providing too much information can cause an audience to lose sight of the main point. Rather than feeling the need to fill every silence or justify every statement, she encouraged women to communicate with intention and allow a pause to do its work.

The takeaway? Be clear about what you bring to the table, share the evidence and trust your message enough to stop talking.

Self-doubt can make even capable, experienced professionals question whether they are ready for their next opportunity. Michelle offered practical strategies for women who find themselves second-guessing their abilities.

When uncertainty creeps in, it can be easy to let assumptions become perceived truths. Michelle encouraged women to separate the facts from the stories they tell themselves.

Instead of assuming you aren’t qualified or experienced enough, take a step back and examine the evidence. What have you accomplished? What skills have you developed? What challenges have you already overcome?

Looking objectively at the facts can help put self-doubt into perspective.

Michelle also encouraged women not to wait until they feel entirely prepared before pursuing an opportunity. Waiting for complete confidence can mean missing out on experiences that could lead to growth.

You may not have every answer, and you may still have things to learn. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re unqualified to take the next step.

Sometimes, the opportunity itself becomes part of the learning process.

It’s easy to focus on the skills you haven’t mastered or the experience you haven’t gained. Michelle encouraged women to look at the evidence that already exists and give themselves credit for their knowledge and accomplishments.

Recognizing your existing strengths doesn’t mean you stop growing. It means you approach new challenges with a more accurate understanding of what you already bring to the table.

Michelle’s insights offer a reminder that professional growth isn’t just about gaining new skills or accumulating experience. It’s also about learning to communicate your value, recognize your accomplishments and move forward despite uncertainty.

Her journey into entrepreneurship reflects the importance of taking a chance on yourself. Her advice on communication and confidence reinforces that women don’t need to diminish their accomplishments, overexplain their decisions, or wait for the perfect moment to pursue their goals.

Instead, they can lead with facts, trust the experience they’ve gained, and take the next step even when a little uncertainty remains.

Because sometimes, the most important shift isn’t becoming more qualified. It’s learning to recognize and communicate the value you already have.

Listen to the latest episode of Bold LeadHERs to hear more of Michelle Gilbert’s insights on communication, confidence, entrepreneurship and helping others reach their potential.

To learn more about Michelle’s work, contact her at michelle@purpleenginecoaching.com.