Ashley Murphy

“Think big. Start small. Stay consistent.”


As the global strategy leader for social impact efforts at Facebook, Ashley Murphy is uplifting underrepresented communities in a massive way. Ashley also drove innovation in education through her work at companies like Wonderschool and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. “Whether it’s about helping a childcare provider grow as an entrepreneur or ensuring a small nonprofit understands how to fundraise effectively, I constantly look for opportunities to learn something new and then share that knowledge at scale,” she says. “I’m proud of the way that I’ve been able to help often overlooked communities have a voice in a changing world.”


Ashley graduated from Harvard before getting her MBA at Stanford — and during her business school days, she was a NFL cheerleader for the San Francisco 49ers. The Hall of Femme honoree was nominated by Sarah Herringer, who describes Ashley as “incredibly passionate and hardworking, hyper-effective in the workplace, very supportive of her friends, and a lot of fun.” Ashley offers life design coaching for businesses and individuals, and hosts women’s circles to help others find their passion and achieve balance in their lives. Did we mention she’s also raising a toddler? “She’s the most well-rounded woman I know,” Sarah says. 


It’s not easy for Black women in business, but Ashley has embraced the power of being a “first” and is using it to connect people to well-deserved opportunities. “Because opportunity is not as equally distributed as talent, I want to do my part to ensure that all communities have the opportunity to reach their potential,” she says. “Instead of focusing on the isolation that you might feel as an ‘only,’ remember that your unique perspective is a gift to all.”