Getting to know... Jessica Ashman

In the latest instalment of Bdaily’s Getting to know... feature, which looks at the person behind the business profile, Jessica Ashman, co-founder and chief creative officer at global creative and digital studio THEY SAY STUDIOS, talks about building a remote first business from Singapore, why creativity needs structure and what life looks like as a founder and mum of two…

We know you as the co-founder of THEY SAY STUDIOS, but who is the person behind the title? Tell us a little about what makes you tick…

At my core, I’m someone who really values the joy in everyday life. 

I try to notice the small wins, the quiet moments, the human stuff. 

Joy matters to me - personally and professionally.

I’m very human-first in how I approach leadership at THEY SAY. 

Everything comes back to connection; how we listen, how we communicate, how we show up for each other. 

Work is work, but people are people first. I don’t believe in leading from a place of perfection. 

I get things wrong, I learn in real time, and I’m very open about that. 

Leadership for me, isn’t about having all the answers - it’s about showing up honestly and being willing to evolve.  

As a woman in leadership, there can be pressure to feel “ready” before stepping forward. 

If my leadership shows anything, I hope it’s that it’s okay to grow publicly, to learn out loud, and to lead with transparency. 

That’s how trust is built. 

I’d rather be present and honest than polished and distant.

Did you always want to work in creative and digital?

Creativity was always the path for me. 

I come from an incredibly creative family - both my parents worked in the design industry, my brother is an amazing videographer, and I have uncles who are photographers and mural artists, grandparents who are artists, the list goes on. 

Creativity is definitely in the blood – so yes, this was always going to be a part of my career – I love it. 

That said, there’s another side of my brain I’ve always loved flexing: business. 

I’ve always known I wanted to run my own company. 

I’m naturally pretty strategic and organised, and even with small design challenges, I’ve always seen them as part of a much bigger puzzle. 

My first job out of university was at a beauty subscription company, where I worked across campaigns and marketing activations for multiple beauty brands every month. 

It was very hands-on - I was shooting content, designing, illustrating, and learning how the marketing ecosystem actually works. 

It was a chaotic but incredible introduction to the digital world of marketing and it’s also where I met my now co-founder, Amy-Lee. 

That experience really cemented my interest in working at the intersection of creative and digital. 

What's the best bit about your job? And the worst?

The people - without a doubt. 

I get to collaborate with incredibly talented individuals from all over the world, and that still feels very special to me. 

We totally embrace remote working, which gives us the privilege of building truly international teams and perspectives. 

I’ll be honest - I find it easier to champion other people than myself (I’m working on that). 

But when you’re surrounded by such talent, it’s impossible not to feel proud. 

Every project feels like a shared achievement, and I’m genuinely grateful for the people we work with every day.

The worst, probably the late nights- working across time zones can mean many calls throughout the day and into the evening.

I have to book in the downtime in between, but the late nights can add up – I’m conscious about that. 

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Motherhood - without hesitation. I absolutely love it. 

I feel incredibly lucky to experience this season of my life, and it’s changed how I see everything. 

Becoming a mum completely reshaped how I think about ambition. 

It didn’t make me less ambitious - it made me more intentional. 

I’m still hugely driven, but success now looks more sustainable, more human, and more aligned with real life.

Building THEY SAY STUDIOS has been my greatest career achievement. 

I couldn’t have done it without my co-founder Amy-Lee, and doing it alongside a best friend makes it even more special. 

Building something from the ground up, watching it grow, learning every day - it’s challenging, humbling, and SO rewarding.

What feels most meaningful now is being able to bring those two worlds together. 

Running my own business has allowed me to build flexibility into how we work, which is essential as a mum - and something that isn’t always possible in more traditional agency environments. 

I’m proud that we’re building a business that reflects real life, not just work life.

How do you relax outside of work?

I have to be outside. 

Whether it’s a long walk, a bike ride, or just being in fresh air - I need the movement and the space. 

Sitting on the sofa doesn’t really work for me anymore; my brain just wants to open the laptop. 

But being outdoors removes that temptation. 

There’s something grounding about being surrounded by nature, with no distractions, that helps me properly switch off.

What makes Singapore such a great place to live and work?

The sun, the energy, and the opportunities, especially travel. 

I’ve fully acclimatised to the humidity now, and I love the peaceful life here. 

And on a personal level, I feel incredibly privileged to raise my children in such a safe environment. 

From a work perspective, Singapore is a true global hub. 

You meet people from all over the world every week - different cultures, perspectives, and ideas constantly crossing paths. 

That diversity is incredibly inspiring and has shaped how we think, work, and collaborate at THEY SAY STUDIOS.

Tell us something about you we didn't know…

One day – perhaps when the house is quieter and life has slowed a little in the distant future – I’d love to practice some sort of art, to work with my hands, create slowly and step away from screens.

The digital world is where I live right now, and I love it, but I’ve always felt that pull toward making art in a more tactile, physical way. 

I think that part of me will eventually take over.

For now, I’m learning to play Mahjong – I’m learning it here in Singapore, and I love the idea of one day bringing it back to England – not just as a game for the family but as a memory of this chapter. 

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