Group Black's Ashley Banks is driving meaningful investment for the Black-owned media companies and creators she serves, while building a platform that will help Black women get the health care they deserve.
Not many people can say they’re creating positive change in the world every day they go to work. Ashley Banks can.
The senior VP for sales at Group Black, which drives ad investment for Black-owned media companies and Black creators, joined the media company in 2022 and helped it surpass its 2021 revenue within her first 11 months. That means, more importantly, more ad dollars are going to Black-owned media companies and Black creators.
As a Black female revenue executive in the predominantly white and male ad industry, Banks said she pays it forward by helping to bring up as many women of color in the space as she can. Group Black, which has about 60 employees, reports that 60% are female and 65% are Black indigenous and people of color.
“There haven't been a lot of women that look like me that have a seat at the table, but not only a seat at the table—[they] can actually eat and converse,” Banks said. “I see the turn in the industry and that a lot of companies are not just speaking about being inclusive, but are doing the work. I would like to think that's because more women in revenue are moving up the chain, commanding that and pulling up other women behind us.”
Outside of her daily duties, Banks, 37, is also behind Group Black’s “She’s Good, For Real” health and wellness program, slated to launch in 2024, which will be dedicated to Black women, who are sorely underserved by health companies.
The platform, launching with digital media company Everyday Health Group, initially will focus on maternal health. It hits close to home for Banks, a Black mother of a toddler.
“I’m considered pretty educated but I was lost at how to speak to doctors, how to understand what were the resources that I needed before going into the hospital, before going through pregnancy, when I was going through IVF,” Banks said. “To be able to build a platform that could save lives is, I mean, I tear up. It's quite possibly one of the best things that I've ever done in my career.”
Betsy Bailey Foster or Nancy Bailey Walker. You’ve never heard of them, but they are the matriarchs of my family (great-great grandmother and great-grandmother). They lived, laughed, sacrificed and fostered growth in the Mississippi Delta. When I think of what they accomplished for our family, I think of a flower growing out of a crack in the sidewalk, utilizing the little sun and nutrients you can scrap to get to grow into something beautiful and strong— where most people wouldn’t think you could. It would be nice to play spades with my great-grandmother (we are still the best team in history), show her pictures of my son Jackson, read this article to her, for her to see our family is in the era of thriving and it’s because of her love and persistence and faith in us. My great-grandmother taught me to always be curious, trust yourself, acquire knowledge—because it can never be taken from you.
I’m so terrible about posting. Do WhatsApp text chains count? My family is mostly in Atlanta, so we use Marco Polo to keep up with each other and share videos of our gaggle of toddlers running around, game nights, barbecues and get-togethers. It’s been a great way to stay connected.
I have a fair amount of books on my list but not as much time as I used to have to read them. Here’s what’s currently on my roster:
“The Whole-Brained Child.” It is so important for me to be present in my son’s life. He’s a very strong-willed toddler with a lot of Virgo energy. So I’m leaning on the experts to help navigate healthy communication. It’s definitely transferred to work with getting an understanding of getting down to what motivates people and choosing to switch your communication strategy based on this.
“Love and Kindness Meditation.” I had imposter syndrome for a very long time, quite often feeling like I have to show myself love and kindness. Doing this every evening before I go to bed helps me to reflect on the day [and] reset for tomorrow.
“First, Break All the Rules.” This is a great recommendation from my boss! I love learning and studying different ideologies and always strive to keep learning and adapting to be the best leader I can be.
“Ms Rachel” and “Numberblocks.” Just kidding, although I’m a big sci-fi and fantasy lover, but the last thing I binge-watched was “Atlanta.” Being from ATL, the show really hit home for me. It’s also the nuance and creative freedom of the writers and character development that made me want to rewatch. I also plan on rewatching all of “Battlestar Galactica,” which I still feel is the best show on TV during its time.
I don’t think that I’ll ever truly retire. I may consult and reprioritize my schedule and use of time, but I’m a shark—gotta keep moving!
