Ashley C. Andersen Zantop
Chief Operating Officer
Ashley leads and serves the teams responsible for strategic and operational planning, revenue, fundraising, audience development and engagement, analytics, business development, brand, content and product marketing and development; paid and organic media channels; commerce and publishing experience; vertical manufacturing and fulfillment. She has spent over 20 years in media, technology, publishing and retail for global consumers, education and nonprofits working in North America, Africa, Asia, Europe, the UK and South America.
Previously, Ashley served as Chief Content Officer for Capstone, a leading publisher of children’s books, digital solutions and services, literacy programs, and K–12 professional development resources for classrooms, school libraries and home. Before that, Ashley was CEO, President and Publisher at Trudy Corporation, later Palm Publishing, responsible for the group's family of global children’s imprints and media businesses. Ashley has also served as an industry consultant, advocate and board member for K - 12 and higher education, social impact organizations and equity investors.
Ashley is the author of NOW WHAT? THE CREATIVE WRITER'S GUIDE TO SUCCESS AFTER THE MFA. She is the co-founder and former co-president of the Fairfield University MFA Alumni Association. Ashley holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Michigan and teaching certifications K- 5 and 6 - 8. She also holds a Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing from Fairfield University with concentrations in fiction and screenwriting and certificates in media strategy from Harvard Business School; in executive function in the classroom from the Harvard Graduate School of Education; and in design thinking from Ideo U.
Ashley lives with her husband and daughter in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the perfect place for the family to run, hike, bike, coach football, play chess, do yoga, snowboard (with more enthusiasm than skill), read, write, binge shows, eat and shovel snow.