It’s March and what do you know I made you wait all month for this #WCW too. The Women Crush Wednesday hashtag and social media trend is nothing new. But I am trying to reclaim that title not just for half naked celebrities or women you actually know nothing about. The women I crush over are using their womenhood, their voice and their passions to make our world brighter. I have some incredible women in my life so I am honored to share them with you. I hope you find them as inspiring as I do.

Meet Ashley.

Ashley and I met at an event in Sydney, Australia called Rad Livin. I found this event on Instagram and decided to go by myself even though I didn’t know anyone. Ashley had the same calling (except she came all the way from California!) Luckily I saw this pretty brunette sitting by herself and decided it would be a good seat. We instantly bonded over being American and then figured out we had a lot in common. We spent the whole day together at the festival and everyone thought we came together. Luckily, thanks to the power of social media we stayed in touch and eventually Ashley moved back to Sydney. I have seen Ashley transform from talking about her dream life the first time we met to actually living which is pretty fricken amazing to witness. Thanks, Ashley for all you create in this world. Thanks for your young, hungry, hustle mentality and being someone I can always bounce ideas off of. I’ll let her take it from here.

1. What do you think makes a woman worth “crushing” over?

A woman living passionately doing what she loves.

2. What do you do for a living? What is the most challenging part about it?

The most challenging part about what I do for a living is explaining what I do for a living. Simply put, I am a content creator. Right now, I’m the community manager and do video for festival called #RadLivin, an annual festival held in Sydney, Australia created to inspire people to do what they love now. Additionally, since I graduated university, I have oscillated working for my family business, which is how I finance everything I’ve done for the last 3 years. I am currently in the application process for a video gig in Manhattan, NYC.

3. Who are three women that you look up to and have inspired you the most in your career/life?

I LOVE this question. Ok, first, Olivia O’Connor, the founder of #RadLivin Festival. She is a badass girl boss who has a story that has hugely inspired where I am today. In terms of empire building, Taylor Swift. I see her as a trail blazer and pioneer—someone who continually pushes boundaries. She has captivated the whole world; she’s doing something right. Lastly, Meghan Markle. She is an actress, philanthropist, and soon-to-be royal. This woman is kicking butt. She gave a speech at the UN women’s conference about women’s equality that changed my perspective on the role women can play in society at any age.   

4. What is one topic you wish more women knew about on a global scale? Why?

I would love for women to know more social and environmental responsibility in business and entrepreneurship aka the negative impacts of manufacturing and production on people and the environment and the best ways to mitigate and create positive change.

5. What advice do you give to women who feel that they are constantly surrounded by drama in their group of friends?

Be the change you wish to see. I think talking less about what to do and just doing it is how you can make real, grassroots change in your community. Another thing is give more than you receive in your friend group and don’t be afraid to not receive anything in return. When the community dynamic changes from how can I gain the most to who can give the most, the drama becomes more manageable and beef tends to be squashed much easier.

6. Do you believe being a strong woman with a passion for her career takes away from a woman’s ability to be a loving partner/mother/friend/sister?

Absolutely not. This question plays into traditional gender roles of the past which I don’t believe to be as relevant in our culture today. I believe love, community, legacy, and integrity are what we should value and the values we should instill to our loved ones. I want everyone to be able to say at the end of their life that they lived with no regrets. There will be lots of conversations about compromises, meeting expectations of loved ones, and shattering bull shit societal pressures of parenting and being a family member/friend. For example, I spent every other weekend w my dad growing up aka I hardly saw him; and yet he is my biggest role model and the person I love the deepest. There’s no formula for how to live as a woman with passion for her career; it’s about communicating clearly.

7. What is something you are really excited about currently in your own life?

I’m REALLY excited about building community through social media. Right now, like 95% of the people I keep in contact with regularly I met over Instagram, Twitter, and/or YouTube. I love that social media is a celebration of life. You can literally connect w anyone, anywhere, of any language, history, interest, talent, and age. Another example: I’m in a group message on Twitter with 45 people who are all doing different things, are all different ages, are all different nationalities, and have different occupations. We are connected by a passion to support people going after their dreams. Community and connecting with like-minded people is what I’m most excited about.  

8. Why is self love an important part of being a modern day woman?

I think self love is a more important discussion today because of one thing: options. Things are less defined: relationships, roles, job opportunities, etc. The life of a woman and can look any way she wants. Which means there’s also more room for insecurities and for trying and failing. That being said, self love is imperative when facing “no” and various rejections one can face with a blank canvas life. I also think it’s important for the modern day woman to surround herself with the right people that love and support her goals and ambitions and she feel free to be completely herself around. The truth is, your quirkiness and your unique personality no one can replicate; it is the leverage you have on everyone at all times. Love who you are, be you, and do what you love.

9. If you could have a lunch date with any woman on the planet, who would it be?

Sara Dietschy. She is a YouTuber, tech nerd, all around legend, and someone I look up to. I’d want to talk shop and be friends with her.

10. How can anyone reading this keep up with you and what you’re doing in the future?

You can follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @ashkatch. You can also watch my quirky videos on YouTube at www.youtube.com/AshleyKatchadourian

Bonus: What is one question you have for me?

What is your take on question 6?

I’ve never answered my own question. I like this. Much like you, my answer is absolutely not. I think that being someone who is passionate about your career (or even just things outside your relationships that are hobbies or things that make you YOU) shows your children and loved ones how to do it. At the end of the day relationships are essential to our happiness and should be a priority in our lives but so should our career, our creative side and the difference we want to make in this world. I think it’s up to every woman to decide how she tilts into each role  depending on the season of her life. I am so passionate about my self-made career and I feel as if I’m only scratching the surface of what I want to achieve, but I also want to have 2+ children and be able to build my career while staying at home (online business for the win) raising my little humans and being a stand up wife and mother. In today’s society it’s up to us to define our boundaries and priorities and I think showing the world that you are passionate about all of your roles makes you a more well rounded, BA woman.

Thanks Ashley, for sharing a piece of yourself with my community. I am so honored that you are my friend and I look forward to collaborating many times in the future. You are so unapolgetically your cute & quirky self and I can’t get enough of it. You are absolutely a woman worth crushing over. Keep living that daydream, Ash Katch! The world needs you ❤