SRQ Magazine | 35 Under 35 Honorees | Ashley Waite

ASHLEY WAITE

DIRECTOR OF MUSEUM EXPERIENCE, THE BISHOP MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND NATURE

35 Under 35 Honoree - December 2022

How and when did you know you wanted to be a leader in your field?

I’ve always found myself assuming leadership roles, something I attribute to 13 years of basketball. But knowing that I wanted to be a leader in the museum field only cemented itself a few years ago. I joined an internal team that was creating exhibitions, and I fell in love with that process. Turning an idea into an experience that people enjoy is incredibly fulfilling. It also comes with immense responsibility. Museums are trusted institutions. The stories we choose to tell, and how we tell them, carry a lot of weight. I feel so fortunate to share my love of science with our community in fun and engaging ways. I am also honored to be in a position where I can elevate other women in STEM—there still aren’t enough of us. I currently have a team of four, myself, and three brilliant, passionate women whom I feel so lucky to work with. Honestly, the best part of my job is work ing with folks who are just as weird and nerdy as I am. I feel like I finally found my people.

What’s the most unexpected lesson you’ve learned during the pandemic?

The most unexpected lesson I learned is the power of turning fear into action. When the world shut down in March 2020, the museum closed too. We were bombarded with stories of massive layoffs and museums closing around the world; I was fearful that I would lose my job too. Amid that fear, I took a risk and started a business for the first time in my life. Not only did I start a business, but I started a business in a field I knew nothing about–machine embroidery. All I knew was that I loved embroidery and saw a need for subtly nerdy adult clothing. So, I researched, bought a machine, created designs, and in July 2020, opened Lit Cactus Embroidery on Etsy. And something amazing happened—it took off. It has been incredible to watch this seed of an idea grow into something I am so proud of over the past two years. And without that initial jolt of fear, I don’t know I would ever have started it.

Do you have any ridiculous goals in life?

Yes! I want, more than anything, to ride in a research submersible. I’ve always been fascinated by deep sea animals; getting the chance to dive down and see them in person is at the top of my list. Most people want to go to space; I want to go to the bottom of the ocean.