Podcasts

November 4

Owning the Table: How Confidence and Honesty Drive Career Success

Ashley Williams is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at UVL, where she leads team-building and sales initiatives in the oil and gas logistics sector. Raised in New Caney, Texas, Ashley was deeply influenced by her parents’ strong work ethic—her father’s offshore career at Chevron and her mother’s unwavering support shaped her determination. Ashley’s background in sports instilled competitiveness and teamwork, skills she parlayed into a successful sales career after a chance entry into the industry, sparked by networking while working at a bar frequented by oilfield professionals.

Ashley quickly rose through the ranks, overcoming gender biases and skepticism in a male-dominated field with grit, honest communication, and relentless prospecting. She navigated mergers and acquisitions with resilience, maintaining focus and embracing change. While balancing motherhood and career, Ashley confronted stigma around pregnancy and workplace expectations, ultimately advocating for work-life boundaries and flexible arrangements. Her leadership is defined by relationship-building, self-awareness, and fostering a driven, coachable team culture. Ashley encourages industry newcomers to pursue their ambitions boldly, build strong relationships, and challenge stereotypes, drawing inspiration from sports and motivational insights. Her unconventional path and perseverance offer inspiration for those forging their own careers in oil and gas.

Ashley Williams, VP of Sales and Marketing at UVL, shares her unconventional rise from aspiring nurse to sales leader in the oil and gas industry. Raised in a hardworking, supportive family with a father in offshore oil, Ashley credits her parents and competitive sports for instilling determination and teamwork. After realizing nursing wasn’t her path, a bartending job led to pivotal networking moments and an unexpected opportunity in sales, where her grit quickly set her apart. She candidly describes overcoming gender bias, building trust through honest communication, and thriving through industry mergers by embracing change. Balancing career advancement and motherhood, Ashley navigated stigma and challenges with resilience and clear work-life boundaries. She encourages new entrants to be coachable, persistent, and relationship-focused, challenging stereotypes and striving for high achievement within their teams.

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