Ashley Miles Discusses Business Acceleration, AI and the Future of Work

RCB President Nancy Goedecke and Rotarian Barbara Mulligan with Ty West and Ashley Miles

This week, the Rotary Club of Birmingham (RCB) welcomed Ashley Miles, Franklyn West Founder & CEO, for a conversation facilitated by Ty West, Birmingham Business Journal Market President & Publisher. Miles discussed how artificial intelligence (AI), evolving workforce models, and new approaches to talent are reshaping business strategy.

Miles described her company’s “liquid talent” approach, which combines internal teams with specialized outside professionals to help companies address challenges and accelerate growth. She emphasized that successful AI adoption requires company-wide planning, clear communication, employee education and appropriate guidelines. Rather than treating AI as a standalone technology initiative, she encouraged business leaders to integrate it into broader business strategies to empower employees, improve efficiency and identify opportunities for growth.

Drawing on her experience building digital businesses and advising companies, Miles stressed the importance of organizational agility, continuous employee development and adapting to a rapidly changing business environment.

Bio for Ashley Miles

Ashley Miles is an award-winning CEO, commercial growth strategist, and Founder & CEO of Franklyn West, a plug-and-play growth orchestration company that helps leaders build modern growth engines. She partners with commercial leaders to accelerate revenue through AI-enabled operating models, on-demand liquid talent, embedded execution, and retail media expertise. 

Known by executives as "The Operator's Operator," Ashley is the leader companies call when they need to unlock new revenue, modernize GTM strategies, create new operating models, or solve complex commercial challenges—fast. Her approach blends strategic vision with hands-on execution.

Under Ashley's leadership, Franklyn West has helped Fortune 500 companies, mid-size start ups and non-profits build billion-dollar revenue streams, modernize commercial operations, and accelerate growth through flexible operating models. The firm has been recognized by Inc. Magazine and the Globee Awards and featured in Forbes and Business Insider for its innovative approach to the future of work.

Previously, Ashley served as Global Chief Business Officer at Thrive Global, reporting directly to Arianna Huffington, where she led global sales, marketing and operations. Before that, she helped scale Refinery29 from an emerging startup into a nine-figure media company, launching new revenue streams including the award-winning 29Rooms experiential franchise. Earlier in her career, she held senior commercial leadership roles at Brand.net and Time Inc., building high-growth businesses across media, advertising, and technology.

Ashley is the host of The Impossible Podcast, where she interviews visionary leaders shaping the future of business, technology, and innovation. As a passionate advocate for women in leadership, Ashley is Past President of New York Women in Communications (NYWICI), where she launched the nationally recognized #WomenHeard initiative. In 2026, she was honored with the prestigious Matrix Award, joining an extraordinary community of trailblazing leaders that includes Gloria Steinem, Toni Morrison, Anna Wintour, Meryl Streep, Gayle King, Halle Berry, Tina Fey, and Maya Angelou.

A Louisiana native, Ole Miss Journalism graduate, entrepreneur, and mother of two daughters, Ashley credits her leadership style to her inner cowgirl spirit. As a lifelong competitive equestrian, she learned the importance of grit, resilience, adaptability, and building trust. That same play-to-win spirit continues to shape how she leads teams, builds companies, and helps clients tackle their biggest growth opportunities.

Bio for Ty West

Ty West is Market President and Publisher of the Birmingham Business Journal. Prior to that role, he served as senior director of editorial operations and editor of the national newsroom for the BBJ’s parent company, American City Business Journals. 

He previously served as editor of the BBJ, where he also served in several other newsroom roles after joining the publication in 2006.

He has served on the boards for the YMCA and the Alabama Press Association Foundation, and has co-chaired the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame committee for the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham.