Our #WCW, Ashley Biscan, is an intern in NYC at Women's Wear Daily and is a senior journalism student at the University of Georgia. She has a passion for communication when it comes to arts and culture and embraces life’s unfolding surprises.
1. What's your story? What makes you unique? I never shy away from a new experience whether that means an excursion to a foreign country, a leadership role or a chance to be creative. Although always open minded and driven by curiosity, I acknowledged my true passions at an early age and since have honed my skills and fully immersed myself in the journalism scenes of the University of Georgia, Athens, Atlanta and most recently New York City.
2. What motivates you? You know those magical movie moments that you wish could happen off screen? Well, I’ve never found a good enough reason not to try to make those moments a reality. You’re your own playwright, so I always aim to move in the direction of my happiness and fulfillment.
3. Who is a hero of yours? The ones who inspire me most are the ones closest to me, my best friends. I admire their incredible desire to learn about the world and the people around them - whether they’re curating a work of art while sporting a new frock or teaching English to a classroom overseas. I am fueled by their drive and tenacious wit.
4. Give us a road map of your career. How did you get to where you are today? Within days of stepping on the UGA campus, I dove head first into all things magazines and the arts. With fashion editor positions and a few bylines under my belt, I built upon my professional experiences to land an editorial internship with Women’s Wear Daily, a fashion publication based in New York City. Along with the red carpet press lines, I found myself working with international event planner Marcy Blum of Marcy Blum Associates. After a summer of celebrations and city living, I’m now easing back into my final year of college in the beloved city of Athens. Go Dawgs!
5. What's your future plan? Your goals? I’ve always been one to live life by a plan, so I suppose that’s why my planner is my favorite accessory. I find comfort in charting the means I need to achieve a goal, but I’ve found it’s the opportunities that you don’t anticipate on your own that really ice the sweet treat of life. However, by this time next year, I’d like to be working for a publication as a director or in-house event coordinator. Only time will tell!
6. If you could give one piece of advice, what would it be? My piece of advice for anyone any day of the week would be to aim high before you settle. I think identifying your strengths, visualizing a dream and asking for the reality can go a long way. If you reach, you just might get a yes.
7. What is something you feel strongly about (a cause, belief, etc.)? I think mental illness is something that plagues many people, and I find that it’s often dismissed in our fast paced society. It’s important to value each other and our bats with trials. This is especially important on a college campus where students feel immense pressure to succeed on a standardized timeline.
8. What's one of the coolest things you've ever done? There are so many reasons to smile when I think back about my experiences, but my most recent would have to be stuffing a car with suitcases for a journey to Manhattan, pulling up to the front door of my brownstone and making this summer an incredible memory in one of the most fascinating places on earth. Working a wedding at The Plaza Hotel, zipping from a fashion show to a photo shoot to the red carpet, and finding the time to catch the sunset on the Westside…it felt like a dream.
9. Anything we haven't asked that you'd like to talk about. The past three years have been an amazing time of learning and growth, and I look forward to my final year at UGA and my future career, but I wouldn’t be where I am without the incredible generosity of the Weir Scholarship Foundation or National Retail Federation Foundation. Receiving these scholarships enabled me to explore facets of my interests and fully take charge of my professional pursuits