STAND with Kelly and Niki Tshibaka
One grew up in Alaska; the other grew up abroad. One is a Daughter of the American Revolution and a descendant of generations of American veterans; the other, the son of an African immigrant and a descendant of Congolese chieftains. One was a government watchdog; the other, a civil rights activist. Both had parents who were homeless for a while, and both graduated from Harvard Law School.
Like you, they have suffered devastating loss and faced overwhelming challenges. Through it all, they’ve found victory over the hardships of life simply by choosing to Stand. Join Kelly, Niki, and their inspiring guests as they move beyond simply talking about issues and challenges, to exploring how to solve and overcome them. Together, we will build a movement of everyday Americans who courageously take a stand for freedom, truth, and a country led by “We the People.”
STAND with Kelly and Niki Tshibaka
Ashley Hayek on Her Career
Have you ever watched the spark of entrepreneurship ignite a fire of patriotism? Our latest episode captures that very phenomenon as Ashley Hayek, the Executive Director of America First Works, unfolds her journey from a mistletoe-selling entrepreneur to the founder of a formidable political fundraising operation. She shares the riveting tale of how her youthful forays into business laid the groundwork for a career steeped in the political arena, shaping the future of communities and the country at large. Ashley's pivotal contributions to political campaigns, like the San Diego mayoral special election, aren't just about rallying votes—they're narratives of perseverance and the power of cultivating relationships. Her story isn't just an inspiration; it's a blueprint for anyone with the drive to make their mark on the world while championing the values they hold dear.
Then, let's swap the sunny climes of entrepreneurship for the biting cold of an Iowan winter. Imagine confronting a snowstorm's fury with the likes of Kayleigh McEnany, Mercedes Schlapp, and Lara Trump. As the snow blankets everything in sight, we recount how this experience became a metaphor for the resilience and unity emblematic of the American spirit. As a coalition's director, Ashley puts forth the notion that it's in the toughest times we truly see the importance of family and standing united for the principles that define us. It's a tale that warms the heart against the chill of adversity, reminding us that determination and teamwork are the cornerstones of not just surviving, but thriving, in the face of life's unpredictable tempests. Join us for an episode that's as much about braving life's literal and figurative storms as it is about stoking the fire of patriotism and entrepreneurship within us all.
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Hello America, hello Alaska, welcome to Stand. This is where we inspire the Statue of Liberty to hold her torch high, week after week. I'm Kelly Chewbacca and I'm joined today, as always, by my wonderful husband, nikki Chewbacca. We're here to equip and empower you to stand up to life's challenges, one episode at a time. You can become a member of our community of standouts by subscribing to our show on your favorite podcast platform or at the Stand Show on YouTube. Leave us a review this week and you'll be entered to win a Hydroflask sticker from Stand. To win a Hydro Flask sticker from Stand, follow us on social media at Kelly4Alaska and remember you can access our great episodes of Stand on StandShoworg. Remember to share this episode with a friend to help equip and empower them. All right, let's jump right in.
Speaker 1:We're gonna have a fascinating policy discussion today with our guest, ashley Hayek. Ashley is the Executive Director of America First Works. They empower patriots who are passionate about the America First agenda to accomplish their policy and legislative goals. Ashley is a gifted leader, a political strategist and an entrepreneur. When she was just 22, she launched her first company and in 2020, she served as the National Coalition's Director for the Trump-Pence presidential campaign. She's a proud wife of a US Marine and a mother of five kids. Ashley, it's great to have you on the show and we all just want to say thank you to you and your husband for your service to our community and our nation. We're very thankful. Welcome to Stand.
Speaker 2:Thank you. Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 3:Oh, it's a pleasure, ashley. I just want to jump right in because we got a lot we want to cover with you today, but your background story is fascinating. So right after graduating from college, you started your own company, a political fundraising firm called Golden State Consultants, and it quickly became an incredibly influential political firm in Southern California. I think that's just so inspiring. We need to hear more stories like that that will empower and inspire young Americans that we're a nation of builders right, that we can build a better future for our families, our communities, our cities and our country, that we have that in ourselves to do. We don't have to be dependent on others or on a government to do that for us. So I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit about how how you went about doing that, what led you to start this company, and what advice might you have for some other budding entrepreneurs out there who are thinking about doing something themselves?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I actually started my first company, I guess you could say, when I was nine years old. My I grew up on a farm in Central California. My dad was a farmer, my dad still is a farmer, was a farmer, my dad still is a farmer, and I really wanted an American Girl doll, like that was it for me, and he would go and pick the mistletoe out of the walnut trees and bring it home and I would wash it and clean it and tie a bow on it and I would sell it at my grandparents' fast food restaurant 50 cents for a small, a dollar for a large. And my goal was to buy this American Girl doll. And I realized it was taking a little long to get to that $82, which I think they were at the time and so I had my dad take me to his, the local jeweler, and I kind of deal with her that if she bought, you know, so many pieces in bulk then I would deliver to her for Christmas season so she could give it out with her customers that bought jewelry. So it really expedited my sales.
Speaker 2:So my dad, I finally got the $82 that was required for this doll. He told me to go ahead and call the company to see if there was any other fees. And I didn't really quite understand the exercise until I called American Girl and they said it was $82 plus tax and shipping and so it was going to cost more money than that. And I was so upset and I got off the phone and I said, dad, they said that they're going to charge me taxes. What are taxes? And he said, well, that's the money the government takes for, takes from you. It's what they charge you. And I said well, dad, I don't like taxes.
Speaker 3:And he said well, honey you're a Republican, and so not only did I become an entrepreneur, but I also became a Republican at the age of nine years old, so that was my very first experience. That's amazing. So it was already in your makeup to be an entrepreneur. So take us 11 years, 10 years into the future. After having launched your first company, I guess this was your second. What happened there?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So then I decided to do political fundraising. I had a couple opportunities and my parents were kind of, you know, wondering what I was going to do with this. You know very nice degree from UC San Diego and I realized there's a need for political and nonprofit fundraisers and, honestly, it really came down to hard work, building relationships, getting to know people and working hard, and so I really was quickly able to grow the business. I had the honor of working with so many great elected officials and candidates and organizations through Southern California where I really got to pick and choose what I wanted to do. But I'll be honest with you, I told myself I'd give myself to the age of 30 to decide if that was really what I wanted to do, and then I would kind of reevaluate at that point. And we ended up in a special election.
Speaker 2:I don't know if you recall Bob Filner ran for the mayor of San Diego San Diego is the eighth largest city in the country. He was elected to mayor and then he got caught up in sexual misconduct and so he was basically forced out of office and Kevin Faulkner then beat him in a special election which we raised $2.5 million in five months off of $1,000 donations. It was pretty amazing. I was super pregnant with my second daughter at the time he was elected and after that point, I was really trying to decide what was going to be next, because California is a tough place to do business is going to be next because California is a tough place to do business. And then, around 2016,. Along came Donald Trump, and that's when I really got bit by the MAGA bug, I guess, and wanting to grow even bigger and serve in a different way.
Speaker 1:That's amazing. Well, let's pick up on the. I was pregnant with my second child. You have had significant influence in shaping policy in our country and the things that you've done. I actually met you during my campaign for US Senate, so it was a couple of years ago at this point. But you also have five kids and you're married, and a lot of us out here who are listening and watching right now would love some insight from you on how do you juggle it all. How does a wife and a mom and a fundraiser and a political influencer, how do you do all of that? What have some tips and tricks been that you figured out work for you?
Speaker 2:I would say the number one reason I'm able to do what I'm able to do is because of my husband and I think when you find your person in life who can you know you can share your dreams and your goals and your values. You always prioritize your family, but knowing that you can support one another, that was that's a game changer and it's sad because we've seen many of our friends end up in divorces or, you know, their relationships falling apart and I would not be where I am today if it weren't for the support and help of my husband. So he does the car pickups, I do the car drop-offs, he's coaching football practice right now and you know I'll do the dance class. But it's really being a team and finding your person who's willing to support you in anything that you want to do in life.
Speaker 1:Tell us about being the coalition's director for the 2020 presidential campaign with Trump and Pence. How did you get connected to the campaign? What was the experience like? Do you have any cool stories from that part of your life that you could share with us?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So, speaking of supportive husbands, I was trying to decide at that point in my career. As I mentioned, I was really, I guess, motivated by what I saw President Trump doing in 2017, right out of the gate, and I was working with the California Women's Leadership Association, and so we were really elevating the work that Ivanka Trump was doing. And then I told my husband, I said, if I ever had the opportunity to work for President Trump, I just want you to know I'm gonna take it. And I met Laura Trump and Eric Trump in 2018 when they came through Southern California for an event. And then, in 2019, I got a phone call from a friend of mine who I worked on a campaign with in San Diego. She was working on the campaign in Virginia and she asked if I was going to be in town soon. And I said, yeah, I'll be there in a couple weeks. So I went out to Virginia, sat down with her and she asked me would you be interested in being the executive director of Women for Trump? And I said absolutely. And she said great, how soon can you move here? And I said how soon do you need me? And she said can you be here in two weeks and I said, yeah, no problem. So we were staying with my in-laws at the time. I went back to my sister-in-law and brother-in-law house and I said, brian, you're not going to believe it. I got offered the job to run Women for Trump and he's like, wow, they're going to let you do that from California. They said, no, we're moving to Virginia. And he's like what, how much are they going to pay you? And I said I have no idea, but, like we're doing this, I was so pumped, he was so angry. It took about three days, but once the temperature was, you know, cooled down, he was fully on board.
Speaker 2:I lived with my in-laws in Baltimore, commuted from May to August of 2019, and then he moved out with the kids in 2019. And then, very quickly, I rose up through the organization and became the director the national director of all the coalitions. So we ended up with over 45 coalitions, 650 advisory board members. It was honestly such an experience of a lifetime. The month of October, october 2020, we had 117 events with First Family and cabinet members alone. So it was truly an incredible experience.
Speaker 2:One of the family members, laura Trump, who I referenced earlier she was the one I worked probably the closest with, besides Katrina Pearson. Both of them are women who are so committed to America, who love our country. They are so just like humble people, and that was something that I was really I wouldn't say surprised, because when you get to know the people in that world, you realize just how much they love this country. But you know they would.
Speaker 2:We were on a Women for Trump bus tour. They decided to stop at you know, tj Maxx or Ross or something on the way to get a pair of earrings. So we're, you know they don't mind staying at a Marriott it doesn't have to be a, you know, super fancy, fancy hotel Just such great, great women and patriots that I had the opportunity to work with. It was probably the coolest experience. One of the experiences I'll just say really quickly the first Women for Trump bus tour was in Iowa in January of 2020. It was Kayleigh McEnany, mercedes Schlapp, laura Trump. I was with them as well and we were going through Iowa snowstorm.
Speaker 1:Okay, pause on the snowstorm because we're coming up on a break and I don't want to rush us through this story, so we're going to come back with Ashley Hayek in a minute and hear what happens in this story of being with this amazing group of people during the snowstorm. As the coalition's director, I love your story so far that the best team comes from family, empowering you to do amazing things for our country. Wonderful story, standing together as a team standing for America. You'll be back on stand after this break. Stand by, hit subscribe, leave a review to be entered to win your Hydroflask sticker and we'll be right back after this break.
