From Vision to Reality: Why I Founded Creative Lens Management
Where it all began.
To kick off my blog series, I thought it would be best to provide some background on Creative Lens Management—a boutique agency founded by me, Ashley Randle, in 2020. As we all know, 2020 was a challenging year for many due to the pandemic, but for me, it marked the beginning of an exciting entrepreneurial journey.
Let’s start from the beginning…
In 2019, I began freelancing as a strategist for a marketing agency in Columbus, OH. It was my first “true” gig in marketing, as my previous role as an Operations Director for a small restaurant chain didn’t offer much space for marketing. After earning my MBA in Marketing and Strategy in 2017, I found it difficult to break into the marketing field. Instead, I stepped into my “leadership era” with the operations role. While I was excited about my first post-grad job—believing it would be a blend of marketing and operations—I soon realized the marketing opportunities were limited. This shift left me searching for more creative fulfillment.
After taking a much-needed sabbatical, I stumbled across a strategist position at a marketing agency—and quickly knew I had found my community. I fell in love with the work. My first task was helping to plan and execute a large-scale benefit event for Franklin County Children Services: The Sneaker Ball. Attendees were invited to pair their black-tie best with their favorite sneakers, with all proceeds supporting the purchase of sneakers for children. The event was a huge success! From there, I continued to manage a variety of marketing campaigns, film projects, community engagement initiatives, and digital marketing services. It became clear that my superpower was planning and execution—managing timelines, budgets, and, most importantly, people.
Fast forward to August 2020—my work was beginning to speak for itself, and my services were increasingly sought after by various brands and agencies. While I still battled a bit of imposter syndrome, I felt confident that it was time to graduate from contractor to consultant. And just like that, Creative Lens Management was born.
I’ll be honest—I had no idea what it truly meant to run my own business at the time. My initial motivations? a) To save on taxes and b) To feel more “official.” But once CLMGMT was officially founded on August 24, 2020 (fittingly, Kobe Day), I realized that starting my business was about so much more than tax breaks or professional titles—it was about independence and believing in my ability to succeed as an entrepreneur. I knew I wanted to help brands tell their stories in the most fun and authentic way possible. And that was just the beginning.
Nearly five years in, the journey has been incredible. I’ve learned so much along the way—and I’m still learning every day. Whether it’s improving efficiencies, growing my team, or streamlining workflows, I’m excited to see what the next chapter holds. And I look forward to sharing more of that journey with you through this blog series. Stay tuned!