Ashley G.

Background

About Ashley G.

Life exists for me in words. I cannot recall a time before I could read. As I grew, I daydreamed in dialogue, visualizing entire conversations offset with full punctuation. By middle school, my passion and aptitude for editing led me to correct friends' grammar and spelling, often offering dictionary entries as evidence of my accuracy. This behavior could limit one's circle of friends at such a transitional stage of childhood. When Lynne Truss described correcting movie posters and printed ads in public in Eats, Shoots & Leaves, however, I felt heard and knew that I would find my place and that there must be others who share my obsessions. I went on to pursue a master’s degree in English, planning to become an undergraduate professor, but realized that I was most at home when writing and editing. For 12 years, I have proofread and recommended edits to a team of 20-25 patent illustrators. There can be quite a bit of text in the drawings, but people are sometimes puzzled as to how I proofread illustrations. I like to ask whether they have seen that game at the back of the comics where one is supposed to find the differences between two pictures. If you can spot those details, you can understand what the task requires. In this role, I work within an administrative team and communicate directly with clients. I have revised and edited the company handbook, worked to design and implement email marketing campaigns, and prepared invoices. I seek to lead with grace and empathy, meeting colleagues where they are and helping them to bring out the best in one another, striving for excellence while encouraging others to do the same. I want to make a lasting impact on an organization so that well into the future the ideas, mentorships, and foundations I built continue to improve careers, culture, and internal and external business outcomes.