I cannot believe it. 2026 is here.

December felt fast and furious. Between closing out the year and planning for what’s next, it moved quickly. I’m excited to finally pause and reflect here.

Newsletter Sounds: a few tracks that carried me through December, in preparation for 2026. Listen here while you’re read (the first half of the playlist is meant to be reflective, second half empowering).

My word for 2026? Stability.

As I enter year three in business, I’m craving stability in myself, my finances, my messaging, and what my day-to-day looks like. I’m still growing, but I want 2026 to be the year I clearly understand what works well to scale. The messaging. The processes. The rhythm.

If I had to summarize December, it would fall into three buckets:

December was largely about slowing down and taking stock.

My reflection process always starts the same way:

• Look at the full year

• Get honest about where I am

• Integrate the lessons, even when they’re uncomfortable

2025 expanded me in ways I didn’t expect. More than anything, it reinforced that health is wealth. I began the year recovering from surgery and carried a deep frustration for months. I felt aligned internally, but couldn’t yet see that alignment reflected in my reality.

That led me to a familiar fork in the road:

• Stay faithful to the mission

• Or chase “security”

I put security in quotes because 2025 was also a year of mass layoffs and long job searches. What once felt stable no longer feels guaranteed, even if it’s still perceived that way.

And while 2025 didn’t go the way I wanted on paper, a lot still moved:

What shifted in 2025:

• I let go of embarrassment around being visible online

• I partnered with incredible companies through F3

• I found a rhythm for testing events and delivering value

• I launched my LinkedIn Live show

• I created offerings I genuinely believe in

• I fully embraced that people want my point of view

Where I can improve in 2026:

• Sales

• Being clearer that I’m open for professional engagement

• More storytelling content with my perspective front and center

Why share all of this? Because building in public means being honest about the full journey. Reflection isn’t optional for founders. We’re people, not machines, trying to do meaningful work. Creating space to reflect is how we change direction intentionally instead of by accident.

If you didn’t do this in December, it’s not too late. Take 20 minutes this week. Sit somewhere quiet. Reflect on the wins and the lessons. Your future self will thank you.

One important thing that came from my 2025 reflection was realizing how strong I became at visibility and marketing, while still needing to improve my sales skills.

Sales always felt like a dirty word to me. Instead of continuing to avoid it, I’m choosing to believe I can sell in a way that stays true to my values and style.

So I tested it in a small, but scary, way.

I was registered to attend a pitch competition when a request for judges came through my inbox. It said:

“We are looking for 1 to 2 more judges, so if you are an investor or founder who’s raised or exited, please reach out.”

I didn’t fit the criteria. Still, I replied honestly:

“I don’t fit the criteria, but if that changes and you need an expert who is phenomenal at storytelling, let me know. Here’s some content I’ve done on pitch competitions.”

Sixteen hours later, I was in.

I had a brief “what did I just do” moment, then remembered everything I wrote was true. I belonged in that room, even if I didn’t meet the original criteria.

It was a blast. I listened to eight startups pitch, asked thoughtful questions, and gave feedback that resonated with both the founders and the audience.

Though small, the moment mattered. It showed me that selling myself while honoring my style is possible and can actually feel good.

I took all of that reflection and went straight into planning.

Here’s what I focused on:

• Reflected on 2025

• Decided what I want to start, stop, and continue in 2026

• Clarified my three-year vision, mission, and values

• Identified what needs to happen in the next year to support that vision

• Set my top three personal and professional goals

• Broke Q1 into specific, realistic steps

For my woo-woo people, I also attended a 2026 planning session with astrologer Kessli Hall. The concept I enjoyed most was astrological business cycling, which she’s used for the past three years.

The idea is simple: throughout the year, you move through sprint, walk, jog, and rest cycles. Each phase supports different types of work and energy. Mapping this back to 2025 felt surprisingly accurate, which made me curious to try working with the energy in 2026 instead of against it.

If you’re interested in learning more, reply back.

2026 is the year community and IRL experiences move from optional to essential.

Trust in business is low. Algorithms are polarizing. AI is making it harder to tell what’s real online. The result is that brands are further away from their customers than they think, and closer to guesswork than insight.

Over the last year and a half, building F3 and working at the intersection of product and community has made one thing clear to me: when brands create space for people to gather in real life, they learn faster, listen better, and build trust in ways digital channels alone no longer support.

This is where my focus is headed in 2026. Helping startups and established brands use community not as a marketing tactic, but as a way to understand the people they serve and make better decisions because of it.

I wrote more about this in Culture Slant, a media platform founded by Alexa Phillips. Read the full article here.

B2B Haus is an IRL concept I’m building with powerhouses Tiff Knighten and Myca Williamson.

The premise is simple: The playbook is changing. Influence comes from community, not visibility. B2B Haus is an IRL environment where brands center the people they are building for. The return is an increased sense of relevance and insight that drives brand adoption.

If this resonates, reply back (or pass it along). We are aiming to lock things by the end of January.

INS & OUTS for 2026:

OUT: Boring panels & fireside chats

IN: Literally anything else. Be creative.

See a complete list of the Startup Baddie podcasts recs here.

Next Era of Brand Building Will Be Won Offline

My article published in Culture Slant. It pulls together what I’ve been experiencing over the last year and a half building community alongside my work in product. At its core is the belief that community is no longer a nice-to-have, but a requirement in the new brand playbook if companies want to stay close to the people they serve.

How to Build a Powerful Network – Aspire with Emma Grede

I loved this episode for several reasons.

Emma differentiates between networking and actually having a network, and she’s clear that while she isn’t discouraging networking events, they are not where she has cultivated her deepest relationships. What stood out to me is that it shouldn’t be this way. Well-curated networking events should be an entry point to real relationships and long-term networks. If the dominant reputation of these events is that they don’t deliver that, something about how they’re designed is broken.

She also reinforced the importance of being clear about what you need from people. Close mouths don’t get fed, and clarity matters in sales too.

Six 2026 Predictions for Brands & Startups

My official 2026 predictions list is live.

It outlines where I believe brands and startups need to focus next, including deeper investment in community and IRL, redefining online interaction, the deployment of fractional talent, a renewed push for creativity and originality, and increased brand-to-brand collaboration.

Whether you’re looking for a thought partner, a fresh perspective, or someone to help you get unstuck, here’s how I currently support folks:

If something here speaks to you (or someone you know), I’d love to hear from you.

If you made it this far, thank you. Hit reply and let me know what landed (or what you want more of next time. I’d love to hear from you.

Grateful you’re here. Talk soon.

xx,

Ashley, the Startup Baddie