Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.

Devin: What is your superpower?

Ashley: Ability to take complex situations and create innovative, multidimensional solutions.

Conferences are where deals get done and ideas are exchanged. Yet, the world of event organization has long been plagued by inefficiencies, high costs, and a lack of diversity. That’s where Ashley Wilson comes in with Conference Connect, a groundbreaking platform designed to transform the conference experience for everyone involved. Think of it as LinkedIn for speakers meets Yelp for events.

During today’s episode of the show, I had the privilege of learning about Ashley’s vision for creating a centralized marketplace that connects speakers, event organizers, vendors, and attendees. She explained that the platform addresses two major challenges in the event space.

“The audience is just a mirror of who is on stage,” Ashley shared. “If you lack diversity in your speaker lineup, you lack diversity in the audience. And that translates into a lack of opportunities for all.” Her emphasis on building more diverse and inclusive conferences highlights a profound societal need, reflecting her mission to create opportunities for underrepresented groups.

Conference Connect includes features such as free profiles for speakers and event organizers, event reviews, and a ticket affiliate program that drives brand awareness and boosts ticket sales. These features aim to address the core problems Ashley herself has encountered over her career. “As a speaker who has traveled across the country, I found there was no resource that gave me confidence in booking an event,” she said.

The platform also has big plans on the horizon. Ashley revealed that they’re expanding their tools to assist with speaker selection and sponsorship acquisition, ensuring a seamless and efficient organizational process. She noted that Conference Connect is built on the mission of creating more accessibility and fostering community within the event space.

The best part? Ashley and her team are taking things a step further by opening the doors for everyday investors to be part of their journey through a regulated crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder. She explained, “We feel raising on Wefunder provides an opportunity to grow and meet the needs that we’re receiving daily—even as cliché as it sounds, it’ll add gas to the fire.”

Ashley’s passion and strategic thinking are powering a movement to reshape the event industry. By addressing its inefficiencies and providing a platform to elevate diversity, Conference Connect is well-positioned to make a lasting impact.

tl;dr:

Ashley Wilson introduced Conference Connect, a platform for speakers, organizers, and attendees to connect.

The platform aims to increase inclusivity and diversity on conference stages and among attendees.

Ashley also addressed inefficiencies in the event industry, such as the ticketing process and speaker selection.

Conference Connect’s regulated crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder offers investors an opportunity to support growth.

Ashley’s leadership stems from her superpower of finding innovative, multidimensional solutions to complex problems.

How to Develop Complex Problem Solving As a Superpower

Ashley’s unique superpower is the ability to take complex situations and create innovative, multidimensional solutions. “I feel that my superpower is my ability to take complex situations and look at all parts of the situation and come up with creative solutions that incorporate all of the different dimensions,” she explained in today’s episode. Her mindset enables her to avoid one-dimensional, siloed approaches, ensuring that her solutions tackle multiple challenges simultaneously. This talent allows her to think holistically and develop impactful, long-term strategies in both business and personal contexts.

Ashley shared an insightful example of leveraging her superpower in the context of her real estate firm. Rather than looking for wealthier tenants, her company implemented financial literacy programs for its working-class tenants. These free programs not only helped tenants make better financial decisions but also improved tenant retention and financial stability. By solving the deeper socioeconomic challenge, Ashley demonstrated how addressing root causes creates better outcomes for all involved.

Actionable Tips for Developing this Superpower:

Surround yourself with people who think differently and challenge your ideas.

Hone your communication skills to avoid breakdowns and foster collaboration.

Practice active listening to absorb and process complex information.

Approach problem-solving with social responsibility in mind.

Look for solutions that address interconnected issues rather than isolated symptoms.

By following Ashley’s example and advice, you can make complex problem solving a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

Guest Profile

Ashley Wilson (she/her):

Founder, Conference Connect

About Conference Connect: ConferenceConnect.com is a digital marketplace and discovery platform designed to connect three main groups in the event industry: organizers, speakers, and attendees.

Founded around 2023, the platform positions itself as a ”community-driven“ ecosystem that uses reviews and data to help users find high-quality events and talent.

Website: conferenceconnect.com

Company Facebook Page: facebook.com/people/Conference-Connect/61553408373383/

Other URL: wefunder.com/conferenceconnect

Biographical Information: Ashley Wilson, is the Co-Founder of Conference Connect, Founder and CEO of Bar Down Investments, LLC, Co-Founder of Apartment Addicts & Co-Founder of HouseItLook, LLC, Best Selling Author of The Only Woman in the Room, Knowledge and Inspiration from 20 Women Real Estate Investors, a regular contributor to RENT magazine and has hosted several BiggerPockets multifamily series.

LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/badashinvestor

Personal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/ashley.wilson.923/

Instagram Handle: @badashinvestor

Support Our Sponsors

Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include SorbiForce, High Desert Gear and Climatize. Learn more about advertising with us here.

Max-Impact Members

(We’re grateful for every one of these community champions who make this work possible.)