Ashley Jennings serves as Program Manager for the Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship, Growth and Renewal. Through her work the tech startup ecosystem, she’s been deemed a top “connector of people and organizations in Austin,” focused on driving real change around systematic problems for women in the workforce and gender inequality. Prior to joining the McCombs team, Ashley helped co-found and served as Chief Marketing Officer for DivInc, a non-profit accelerator for women and ethnically diverse tech founders, aimed at increasing diversity in the tech industry.

She is also the Co-Owner and Executive Producer of Spero Labs, LLC, a creative production agency championing great content for clients of all sizes, from local startups to fortune 500 giants. As a thought leader, Ashley produces and speaks at conferences, events and summits throughout Texas, including SXSW.

Before moving back to Texas from New York, she helped launch Al Jazeera Media Network’s American channel, Al Jazeera America, and was part of the ABC News field team who traveled the country covering breaking news, weather and politics. Her time with ABC News earned her five Emmy nominations along with a Peabody Award and two Edward R. Murrow Awards.

She’s skilled in media consulting and strategy, marketing communications, fundraising, sales, event management, strategic partnerships and corporate relations.

Her greatest joy is mentoring students and being back on the Forty Acres, where she earned a Bachelor of Journalism and a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations.