A Love Letter to the First Year (and Everything it Taught Me)

One year ago, I launched Hive Ambition with a vision that felt equal parts exciting and terrifying. I wanted to create something I hadn’t been able to find - a space where women could grow sustainable, aligned businesses surrounded by other women who truly understood the experience of being an entrepreneur.

At the time, I didn’t have a perfect roadmap. I had a handful of ideas, a deep belief in what was possible, and a hope that if I built it with heart, the right people would find it. And they did. You did.

Now, a full year later, I’ve been reflecting on what this first season of Hive has taught me. Not just about building community, but about what it means to run a business that actually feels good to run. One that’s built around real values, not just goals.

1. You don’t have to do business alone, even when you’re the one leading it

I thought I understood this already. I’ve always believed in collaboration and community. But Hive showed me what it really means to build with people. To trust others with your ideas. To ask for support when you’re not sure what the next step is. To let yourself be held while you hold space for others.

Being surrounded by brilliant, kind, ambitious women reminded me that building something meaningful doesn't have to mean doing it all by yourself. And honestly, everything started to click when I stopped trying to.

2. Holding space is work, and it’s worth it

Creating a real community isn't just about setting up a platform and hoping people will engage. It takes effort. It means listening. It means showing up on the days you’re tired. It means noticing when someone goes quiet and checking in. It means creating systems that support growth without losing the personal feel of the space.

Hive taught me to treat the container of my business with as much care as I treat the content. It’s a skill to hold space for others while staying connected to your own vision. And it’s one I’ll never take for granted.

3. Alignment matters more than scale

I’ve worked in high-growth, fast-moving environments. I’ve scaled teams and operations. But this year reminded me that growth isn’t the real goal. Alignment is.

Some of the best decisions I made weren’t about growing the fastest. They were the ones that helped me feel more grounded and more clear. Saying no to things that weren’t a fit. Shifting timelines. Creating programs that support the whole person behind the business. That’s the kind of success I care about building.

4. It’s okay to figure things out as you go

There were plenty of moments this year that didn’t go the way I expected. Events that didn’t fill. Offers I had to adjust. Messaging that needed a second pass.

But Hive has been a reminder that clarity doesn’t always come before action. Sometimes it shows up because you kept going. Because you stayed open. Because you were willing to learn in real time.

5. People are craving real, intentional spaces

This one hit me the hardest. The women who joined Hive weren’t just looking for more content. They were looking for connection. For accountability. For structure that actually fits the season they’re in. For a place to grow that doesn’t ask them to be someone they’re not.

And they found it. They built it with me. They made Hive more than I ever imagined it could be.

Hive has been one of the most important things I’ve ever created. And we’re just getting started.

Thank you for being part of this first chapter. Whether you’re a member, a collaborator, a client, or someone who’s cheered from the sidelines, I’m so grateful you’re here. I’m walking into year two with more clarity, more courage, and a bigger vision than ever.

Here’s to what we’ve built and everything that’s still to come.

With love,
Ashley