Ashley N. Cloud, Esq., M.B.A.’s Post

Q2 is coming to an end and we are almost halfway through the year! As I am planning for Q3 and beyond, I first want to reflect on some of the amazing things that have already happened this year. Sometimes we can be so focused on looking forward that we don’t take time to practice gratitude and acknowledge all of the blessings we’ve already experienced. Taking time to practice gratitude keeps you grounded and can keep you going when things are tough, especially as an entrepreneur when you constantly have to keep yourself motivated to follow your dreams. So here are just a few highlights from the last 3 months:  🎉 Speaking at Fashion Institute of Technology about Fashion Law!  🎉 Being a Top 10 Finalist out of 4,500 for my small business The Cloud Law Firm PLLC and winning $5K to pour into the empire I am building! 🎉 Visiting DC and getting loved on, connecting with new and old friends!  🎉 Embarking on a new journey of finally exploring more of my creative side, first through modeling and who knows what else!  🎉 Winning a fellowship with Yelp x Luminary! 🎉 Riding my bike across the Brooklyn Bridge, from Brooklyn to Manhattan! 🎉 Sticking to my lifestyle change of no alcohol! 🎉 My new collaboration with Horton Legal Strategies PLLC! 🎉 Finally repotting my plants! And so so much more! No matter how big or small it may seem to you, what is one thing you are grateful for or that made you proud this quarter? I’d love to celebrate with you! #gratitude #thankful #q2 #q3 #businessowner #lawyer #reflections #businessplan #selfcare

So excited about our new collaboration with my fellow Howard Law alum Lenore Horton where I will be serving as Special Counsel at Horton Legal Strategies PLLC! Horton Legal Strategies PLLC (HLS) is a full-service, national law firm serving a global clientele of middle market companies and select upwardly-mobile small businesses.  With a dedicated team that spans the globe, and an expanding attorney network, HLS provides comprehensive legal services that include employment law, business structuring, commercial transactions, securities law, IP licensing, litigation, and M&A. Who would have thought a lunch a few weeks ago would turn into such an awesome opportunity for us to work side-by-side to support founders along their entrepreneurial journeys?! 🎉 P.S. You can still find me serving my amazing current and future clients at The Cloud Law Firm PLLC!

Lunch with Lenore Horton was by far the highlight of my week! There's nothing like breaking bread with fellow boss attorneys, especially fellow Howard Law Bison! I am looking forward to connecting more in the future!

The results of the Small Business Big Wins contest are in! Although I didn’t win the grand prize, I still feel like a winner because of how much this contest has pulled me out of my comfort zone and shown me how many of you support me and are rooting for me to win! 🙌🏾 Thank you for all of your support! It really means the world to me! ❤️❤️❤️ As an entrepreneur, the ability to keep going even when things don’t go your way is pivotal to your success. As an entrepreneur who primarily services entrepreneurs, if there’s anyone who gets it, it’s me. Feel free to reach out if you’re ever in need of my services or would like to partner up on a project! This is only the beginning! The Sky’s the Limit! ☁️🚀 #lawyer #entrepreneur #businessowner #testimony #resilience #strength #tenacity #keepgoing #encouragement #gratitude

Ending this contest with lots of gratitude in my heart. Today is the last day of voting for me as a Top 10 finalist out of 4,500 applicants in the @barclaysbankus Small Business Big Wins Contest and grand prize of $60,000!! Let’s go out with a bang💥! VOTE HERE👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾 https://lnkd.in/eEXdQZAH 🗓️Winners will be announced on MAY 1st to coincide with Small Business Week! I cannot end this day without thanking each and every one of you for your support!! 🥹To every single person who voted for me over the last 2 weeks: THANK YOU! 🥹To every single person who shared my post with family and friends: THANK YOU! 🥹To everyone who gave me an encouraging word: THANK YOU! It seriously means the world to me that so many friends, family, and people I don’t even know have supported me along this journey. 🏆I don’t know what will happen from here, but I already feel like a winner. I was chosen out of 4,500 as a Top 10 finalist just from telling my story and sharing my commitment to serving my community! 🏆I had a 0.02% chance of making it where I am, yet I am here! 🏆Only 2% of all attorneys are Black women, yet I am here! I wasn’t sure how many people would support me to the end, yet here I am now knowing I have a whole community online and IRL who really want to see me win!! It really doesn’t get much better than this! …well winning the $60K would make things a little better 🤏🏾🤣 But as of midnight tonight, that will be in God’s hands: the best place to be. 🙏🏾 #thankyou #blacklawyer #socialentrepreneur #socialengineer #howardlawyer #trademarklawyer #contest

I had the honor and pleasure of attending my very first in-person event as a Yelp x Luminary Fellow, and I am absolutely blown away by the incredible energy and support I’ve already received!! First I was greeted by the wonderful who I already know I am going to learn so much from. Then during the Progressive Networking Power Hour, we were randomly placed into small groups. As I introduced myself, Laura 🌿 G. who was seated right next to me, recognized me and took over my introduction, having just read my feature in the Bed-Stuy Patch earlier this morning! Laura then proceeded to share my story with the entire room! I literally wanted to cry at how supportive you are and we only just met! Then Ruchi Pinniger took me around to everyone to make sure they voted for me. Sometimes I struggle with asking for help so I appreciate you! Wow. Just wow. It’s not every day that you walk into a room and everyone is genuinely interested in you and sees you. I am so excited about the journey ahead with my new Luminary family. Thank you so much for creating this community Cate Luzio, and Emily Washcovick for supporting us fellows!! You still have until Friday to vote for me in the Barclays Small Business Big Wins Contest for the grand prize of $60,000. I am a Top 10 finalist out of 4,500 applicants and I’m just so proud of myself for making it this far. Link to vote daily is here! 👉🏾 https://lnkd.in/eEXdQZAH Thank you so much to Victoria Navarro, Psy.D and Linda Xu for voting for me! P.S. Don’t you just love Elizabeth Eiss and I’s matching paisley looks? Too many synchronicities to count!!

Talk about a full circle moment! Beaming with so much gratitude after having the amazing opportunity to speak at the Fashion Institute of Technology Fashion Law Society’s Inaugural Fashion Law Conference! I remember how I would get dropped off on the bus from DC right in front of FIT and would peek in the windows of the museum to see what cool exhibits were on display. I’d walk around the city just dreaming of the day when I could find myself living here and running my own law firm for fashion designers and many other entrepreneurs! 🙌🏾 Days like yesterday remind me that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. Thank you to Katie Dunn for inviting me to be a panelist. You and your team did a fantastic job!! Thank you to my amazing co-panelists Anna Radke Caen Dennis and Robb Roby for their camaraderie and insightful commentary on all things IP & fashion! #fashionlaw #fashionlawyer #dreamfulfilled #livingonpurpose #lawyer #blacklawyer P.S. there are still a couple of days to vote for me for the Small Business Big Wins Contest here! https://lnkd.in/eEXdQZAH