Ashleigh Gardere

Ashleigh Gardere is the Executive Vice President at PolicyLink. Prior to this, they were the Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at the New Orleans Business Alliance from January 2018 to March 2020. There, they transformed the Business Alliance into one of the nation’s leading economic development organizations prioritizing inclusive growth as the pathway to a thriving, sustainable economy.

Gardere designed a new staffing model, organizational budget and performance accountability system. Ashleigh set the highest standard and guided development of best-in-class branding to enable stakeholders and residents to visualize the services and value proposition of NOLABA. Ashleigh also set a new standard for internal partnerships to deliver equitable outcomes.

Gardere established a new baseline for business development efforts, increasing the job creation goal from just 10-50 jobs annually to creating 758 new jobs in only 12 months. Over 80% of jobs created in 2019 paid above $50,000 annually. Ashleigh positioned NOLABA as a credible pipeline for quality candidates to meet employer needs. Gardere also spearheaded the nation’s first-ever expansion of STRIVE’s work readiness model across four local agencies and successfully implemented New Orleans’ first-ever, pay-for-success model.

Ashleigh accelerated development of New Orleans' local Small Business Ecosystem to support growth of entrepreneurs of color including business management education, new capital investments, and a local Procurement Council. Gardere generated over $8.5 million in new private sector contracts in the Procurement Council’s first 18 months. Ashleigh created 53 new jobs, 100% paying above $50,000 annually. Gardere also raised a $5 million Mobilization Fund.

Lastly, they informed a new approach to place-based development that prioritizes robust community engagement in project pipeline development. Gardere recruited an exceptionally talented team of directors to build partnerships and catalyze equitable development in high-impact neighborhoods.

Ashleigh Gardere has a Master's Degree in Public Policy - Housing & Urban Development from Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor's Degree in Metropolitan Studies from New York University.

They work with Josh Kirschenbaum - Chief Operating Officer, Jennifer Tran - Director, National Equity Atlas, and Crystal Yang - Director of Donor Engagement. Ashleigh Gardere reports to Michael Mcafee, President and CEO.