Bossing It: Why Challenges Can Be Opportunities with Ashley Kohler

Ashley Kohler is the head of motion design and animation studio Awesome Incorporated. 

Ashley has led teams on hundreds of episodes of series animation for networks like Adult Swim, Comedy Central, and Hulu, while also supervising commercial, promo, and packaging projects for clients like FX, Cartoon Network, Wieden+Kennedy, and Nickelodeon. She is passionate about improving workplace culture in the industry and empowering artists throughout the Southeast, and serves on the board of directors for ASIFA South.

LBB> What was your first experience of leadership?

Ashley> It is difficult to say really - I’ve held positions of leadership since I was young - from the school safety patrol to president of the Latin club… I even attended a Red Cross leadership conference when I was in the sixth grade and loved it!   

LBB> How did you figure out what kind of leader you wanted to be – or what kind of leader you didn’t want to be?

Ashley> I’ve worked various types of jobs since I was 14 years old. Fast food. Retail. Childcare. Food and Beverage. Production. Corporate. In each position I had a boss, and in most cases that boss had a boss. As a teenager I already knew what kind of leader I would be if given the opportunity - and along my journey I was fortunate enough to work for and learn from some amazing managers.

LBB> What experience or moment gave you your biggest lesson in leadership?

Ashley> The second week of March 2020 will always be a benchmark moment in my career. Awesome Inc was deep in production on multiple series and our staff count was the largest we’d ever had. With days’ notice we realised that being together was no longer going to be possible. Our clients were calling me wanting to know our plans before we had them - wanting to confirm both that our staff would be safe, and also their files. Our staff on the other hand was scared and had questions for which I didn’t yet have answers. I leaned heavily on my management team for advice and we made it through, taking our studio fully remote in the middle of production in just days’ time. It was an amazing lesson in humility, trust, caring, and respect that I will never forget.

LBB> Did you know you always wanted to take on a leadership role? If so how did you work towards it and if not, when did you start realising that you had it in you?

Ashley> I’ve never shied from leadership roles, but what has been a surprise was becoming a business owner. Leading teams is one thing, but owning a business and fostering all that goes along with that is another entirely.

LBB> When it comes to 'leadership' as a skill, how much do you think is a natural part of personality, how much can be taught and learned?

Ashley> I think it can absolutely be learned, and I believe that everyone has leadership traits and qualities even if they feel differently. As with any skill, study and practice go a long way into developing what lies inside us - if you aren’t comfortable speaking in groups, you can learn and practice to be better at that. If you aren’t great at giving or receiving feedback, you can learn to be better at both. Just as there are courses and tutorials and podcasts about illustration, art direction, and aftereffects there are plenty about business, communication, and leadership. There are people with inherent leadership abilities no doubt, but there are also many others worth following that just need to know how to better be heard. 

LBB> What are the aspects of leadership that you find most personally challenging? And how do you work through them?

Ashley> For me, the decisions that have to be made that affect people’s lives as a leader never get easier no matter how much experience you gain. Making decisions about things like healthcare benefits, retirement plans, and layoffs always weigh heavy. I’ve found the best way to deal with significant choices like these is to give them the time and research they deserve, gathering insight from trusted advisors versus trying to make difficult decisions on your own, and to communicate as much information as possible with your team as early as possible, making transparency a priority.

LBB> Have you ever felt like you've failed whilst in charge? How did you address the issue and what did you learn from it?

Ashley> As a general rule I try not to have regrets or look back and consider any situation in particular a failure. Each of our decisions lead us down a path to our next experience. A corny as it sounds, I don’t have a long memory for things that could have gone better as I try to look ahead to our next success. Yes, each experience, good or bad is a learning experience, but I never try to consider my actions or the actions of my team 'failures.'

LBB> In terms of leadership and openness, what’s your approach there? Do you think it’s important to be transparent as possible in the service of being authentic? Or is there a value in being careful and considered?

Ashley> I feel that a good leader is all of these things at once-  straightforward when appropriate, but measured when it is called for. Understanding the nuances of timing - when to listen, when to stand up and shout. How best to communicate information to clients, to employees, to each type of partner in every way so that authenticity isn’t just a buzzword, it is truly felt. 

LBB> As you developed your leadership skills did you have a mentor, if so who were/are they and what have you learned? And on the flip side, do you mentor any aspiring leaders and how do you approach that relationship?

Ashley> I have been very fortunate to have several very talented mentors along my journey, several of which were woman business owners. Ironically at the time I was working for these women I had no idea I would one day own a business of my own, but several I still keep in touch with to this day, and ironically I’ve even spoken on a panel with one as a peer 20+ years after working for her. And yes! I have several mentor / mentee relationships and am happy to pass whatever knowledge I have gained along to future leaders in different ways. I feel that it is so important to share the knowledge we’ve gained, especially women in creative leadership.

LBB> In continually changing market circumstances, how do you cope with the responsibility of leading a team through difficult waters?

Ashley> Challenges can also be opportunities. It is difficult to be strong for others when you are having all the same emotions they are having - fear, exhaustion, uncertainty - but so much volatility has been an opportunity to find things to be grateful for and to pull towards each other for support.

LBB> As a leader, what are some of the ways in which you’ve prioritised diversity and inclusion within your workforce?

Ashley> As a woman-owned company, we’ve always had a strong mission of diversity and inclusion. It's important to us to actively seek out talent of all kinds for positions on our team, and to make sure all are welcome. There is also an unmistakable increase in desire by our client partners to work with more diverse talent which is wonderful!

LBB> How important is your company culture to the success of your business? And how have you managed to keep it alive with increases in remote and hybrid working patterns?

Ashley> Company culture is tremendously important to us. It can be difficult for animation studios to foster culture because of their gig-based ecosystem, especially now with so many artists working remotely. Finding different ways to connect is important, but really treating each other with respect is paramount. We provide DE&I and harassment training, as well as a structured mentorship program to help facilitate consideration and personal growth. We also make it a point to support our staff both when they are with us and also after they leave so that it isn’t all about the work.

LBB> What are the most useful resources you’ve found to help you along your leadership journey?

Ashley> People. At the end of the day, when I have a question, I'm not digging through a podcast or a book to find the answer – I’m thinking about the smartest people I know, and I'm calling them up to talk through whatever I’m facing.