We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Rouse and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I absolutely love this question, because taking risks is something that my mother ingrained in me since I was young. She would say, “nothing beats a try but a failure,” emphasizing that attempting something, even if it ends in failure, is better than not trying at all. She encouraged taking risks and pursuing goals, as the experience and potential for growth always outweighs the fear of failure. I’ve taken some big risks in my career, from turning down big promotions to protect my peace, to leaving a cushy job at Conde Nast in the World Trade Center to explore entrepreneurship full-time, to shutting down a company that I had run for a decade in order to refind happiness. Every time, something wonderful has come from the leaps I took. I’ve never looked back and I regret nothing.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be like Martha Stewart. Not because of any one thing she did, but because she did all of it. She embodied the idea that we are too full of talent, too brimming with creativity, to limit ourselves to a single path. The notion that we must pick just one thing—one job, one skill, one passion—and do only that for decades has always felt unnatural to me. I’ve always believed you can not only love, but excel at, many things. That you can be a thought leader in multiple spaces, seamlessly weaving expertise across disciplines. Yet, for so long, that kind of versatility wasn’t celebrated—it was questioned. But I never let those doubts get in my way. Instead, I’ve embraced the ebb and flow of my talents, gracefully moving from one world to the next. Over the past two decades, I’ve cooked in professional kitchens and documented my culinary journey. I’ve designed clothing and launched businesses. I’ve sold jam and biscuit mixes, curated homes, and built brands—both my own and for others. On paper, it may seem scattered, but to me, it has always felt like a natural rhythm.

Today, I run a creative agency that specializes in branding & marketing, graphic design, interior design and business consulting. Considering I started my journey in culinary school and cooking in the kitchens of restaurants and hotels, I’d say every step of the way has been a challenge. But I want people to know that the true American Dream is finding out how to monetize your passion, whether that be in corporate America or in entrepreneurship. I truly believe that if you aren’t happy, you aren’t successful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, I’m fairly new to Atlanta, but here’s what I’d do (in no particular order):

– Coffee at Bellwood Coffee
– Lunch at La Moon
– Dinner in my neighborhood at Seed Kitchen & Bar
– Drinks at The Third Door speakeasy
– Cocktails and plant workshop at The Victorian Atlanta
– Dinner at Ela
– Lunch/dinner at Rumi’s Kitchen
– Movies at iPic + dinner at Saints + Council + Drinks at JoJo’s
– Fridays at the High Museum
– Jazz at the Betty
– Shopping at the Avalon

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My God, what a loaded question. So many people have encouraged me in a very real way along this journey. God has provided clarity, direction and paths for me to take. My mother has supported every single endeavor since day one. My husband is the best person I know and has always been a thought leader in business – a very valuable thing when you’re running a company. The Black community and the Black-owned business community – let’s not forget about them! Their unwavering support and uplifting messages over the past decade were enough to make me see something in myself that I didn’t even know was there.

Website: https://www.rouselikehouse.com

Instagram: @rouselikehouseinc

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