Peoplelogic Spotlight Interview: Meet Ashley!

After three memorable years at Peoplelogic, Ashley is setting off on her next adventure, leaving behind a lasting legacy of creativity, resilience, and heart.  

From day one, Ashley’s impact on the team and company culture has been undeniable. With her unique ability to seamlessly weave personal creativity into professional expertise, Ashley brought a fresh perspective to everything she touched—whether through her thoughtful customer relationships, her infectious collaborative spirit, or her ability to balance work with her artistic passions. This spotlight honors her journey, celebrating the remarkable imprint she’s left on Peoplelogic.

Let’s extend a warm welcome to Ashley as we dive into her personal journey in our exclusive interview.

Employee Spotlight Q & A:

• Reno Navales: Can you briefly introduce yourself and tell us how your journey brought you to Peoplelogic?

• Ashley Alderman: I spent the first decade of my career in the hospitality space. Seeking a bigger challenge, I then ran a luxury apartment relocation service in Colorado, which built my resilience and ingenuity across sales, customer success, and customer marketing. These experiences paved the way for me to specialize in customer success, ultimately leading me to Peoplelogic. The best part of the story was finding Peoplelogic’s CSM role in 2022, which took me applying to 550+ jobs and participating in 60+ interviews with dozens of companies. It quickly became clear that Peoplelogic was the right fit with the right team at the right time!

• RN: What’s one of your favorite memories from your time at Peoplelogic, and how has that experience shaped the way you approach customer success, teamwork, and life?

• AA: One of my favorite Peoplelogic memories is a team bonding event in Durham, NC, where we went axe-throwing. It was a blast, especially watching Brian make an epic comeback to win the competition.

• RN: How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance, especially with your creative pursuits? How have these personal interests helped you manage the demands of your career?

• AA: I have a few go-to activities for maintaining a healthy work/life balance. I love taking thought walks, hiking in nature (my favorite trail in NC is Eno River State Park), listening to my favorite podcast "Sounds Like A Cult," reading memoirs (especially anything by Joan Didion), watching movies (anything by Studio Ghibli) and getting lost in anything art-related.

• RN: Can you describe a time when you took a significant risk in your career or faced a major setback? How did you navigate the situation, and what did you learn from it?

• AA: I faced a significant setback in 2021 when I experienced severe burnout after working 70+ hour weeks at a previous company. The long hours coupled with a challenging work environment left me feeling drained and wary of trusting others. However, finding Peoplelogic marked a significant turning point in my life. The team created a supportive and nurturing environment, which helped me rebuild my confidence. This experience taught me the importance of work-life balance and the impact a positive team culture can have on professional growth and personal well-being.

• RN: Just like in poetry, where every word matters, how do you ensure that every customer interaction is meaningful and contributes to the bigger picture of success?

• AA: Just as every word in poetry is chosen for deeper meaning, I ensure that each customer interaction is intentional. I prioritize understanding customer needs through active listening and offering tailored solutions that meet their needs.

• RN: When did you first start writing poetry, and how has it shaped your outlook on life?

• AA: I started writing poetry around the age of 4 or 5 because I was drawn to the rhythm and alliteration found in books and lullabies. This natural draw towards the interplay of words inspired me to develop my unique voice. Over time, poetry became a way for me to explore difficult emotions, capture wisps of time, and express my thoughts in a deeply personal way. And the most exciting part?! My first poem is being published this fall in Renowned, a contemporary art magazine.

• RN: Do you keep a poetry journal, and how often do you write? Are your poems inspired by specific moments, or do you have a set process for writing?

• AA: I regularly jot down stories, drawings, pictures, and bits of my day. Lately, my entries lean more toward prose and lyrical poetry. My journal is just a mix of whatever’s on my mind — sometimes reflecting on a moment, other times just a stream of words. It’s less about having a set process and more about letting inspiration find me.

• RN: Is there a parallel between shaping clay in pottery and shaping customer experiences at Peoplelogic?

• AA: In both pottery and customer experience, there's a sense of renewal and transformation. With clay, you start with a raw, formless substance and mold it into something meaningful. It requires patience, a vision, and a willingness to adapt as the piece takes shape. Similarly, in shaping customer experiences, you begin with the foundational elements of customer goals. You then sculpt these into a personalized journey. Both practices involve a continuous process of learning, adjusting, and reshaping based on feedback until the result resonates.

• RN: If you had to describe your role as a Customer Success Manager at Peoplelogic using only emojis, what would you choose to represent the highs and lows of your job?

• AA: 🥾🏃🏼‍♀️‍➡️🏔️🌤 (keep heading up that mountain - but remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint!)

• RN: What’s a personal and professional goal you’ve set for yourself for 2025? How do you plan to achieve it, and what challenges do you foresee?

• AA: A personal goal I've set for 2025 is to publish my first poetry book. I’m currently in the process of selecting a collection of poems that best represent my voice and experiences. It’s been a long journey of revisiting old pieces and finding new ones that resonate. The challenge I’m currently facing is balancing the temptation to endlessly revise, but part of the process is learning to let go and allow the poetry to speak for itself.

• RN: How do you see the role of customer success evolving with the increasing reliance on AI and data-driven tools? What skills do you think will be most critical for future customer success leaders to develop?

• AA: I love this question! I was just reading about how AI will impact CS/CX within the next few years. It’s clear that AI will automate many routine tasks (like manually prioritizing, booking meetings, prepping for calls, building slide decks, etc.). As these tasks become automated, the role of CS/CX will likely shift towards unlocking niche insights, driving change, and turning opportunities into results for customers.

• RN: If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting in customer success in the tech industry, what would it be? How has your own career experience shaped that advice?

• AA: For anyone starting in tech/customer success, remember that you belong and your experiences matter. It’s easy to compare yourself to others, but each of us has a place and purpose. As an introvert thriving in customer-facing roles, I've found a balance between making unexpected connections and finding meaningful solitude. My best advice for anyone starting any new role is to trust your instincts, pursue what you love, and don't let anyone convince you otherwise.

• RN: What is one improvement you would like to see at Peoplelogic, and how do you think it would enhance the overall culture or team dynamics?

• AA: One improvement I’d love to see is increased internal collaboration, such as monthly Lunch and Learns or dedicated spaces for team members to share projects they’re working on or passionate about. In any organization, it's easy to get caught up in our own silos, but breaking down these barriers is crucial for fostering co-creation and keeping team morale high.  

• RN: What’s a book, podcast, or course that has had a significant impact on your career, and how did it change your perspective or approach to your work?

• AA: "The People Strategy" by Lattice’s former CEO, Jack Altman, had a major impact on me when I read it in 2022. This book broadened my perspective on how to invest in employee engagement and co-create organizational culture. This book sparked my idea of creating Peoplelogic’s Employee Spotlight program in 2023.

• RN: What’s a question that has been occupying your mind for a while, whether about the universe, life, or yourself? Do you think having a definitive answer would change your approach to work and life’s challenges?

• AA: In recent years, I've found myself grappling with some big (and sometimes painful) questions about life and relationships — you know, those deeply rooted curiosities that seem to linger in the corners of all human minds. As I’ve navigated these thoughts, I've found solace in the belief that life offers us three simple answers: Yes, Not right now, and I have something better in store for you.

By embracing uncertainty and diving into the unknown head first, I’ve learned to find comfort in the journey and beauty in trusting the process.

• RN: If you could only listen to one artist or band for the rest of your life, who would it be and why? How does their music resonate with your life philosophy or how you approach challenges, creativity, and success?

• AA: Hands down, the Italian pianist, Ludovico Einaudi, is one of my favorite artists. I saw him perform live in 2019  at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver. His composition, stage presence, and nature-inspired melodies really soothe me. For example, the song “Seven Days Walking / Day 3: Fox Tracks” perfectly captures the image of a fox trotting across snow-covered plains. If you have time, you should give it a listen here.

• RN: How do you want to be remembered to be at Peoplelogic?

• AA: I hope to be remembered for my commitment to deeply understanding customer needs, advocating for their success, and contributing to a culture of collaboration and innovation within the team. If I can leave behind a framework that enhances our customer engagement and helps teammates succeed in their roles, I’ll consider that a meaningful win.

• RN: If you got a full year off with pay, how would you spend your time, and what personal or professional goals would you want to achieve during that time?

• AA: Oh gosh, where do I start?! I think I’d spend the first few months traveling to all the places on my bucket list:  

Lapland, Finland to see the reindeer and sleep in a glass igloo.

Nazaré, Portugal to witness the 100-foot wave.

Alaska to hike and experience the northern lights again (I saw the Northern Lights for the first time in Iceland in 2015).

Japan for the food, textiles, traditions, and onsen.

From there, I would dedicate the remaining time to publishing my poetry book, honing my ceramic skills, and spending quality time with family and friends.