Alumni Spotlight

w i t h A s h l e y C l i n e C a g l e E q u e s t r i a n S t y l i s t , F o u n d e r / P u b l i s h e r

Photographed by: Kathy Cline Photography

What led you to start Equestrian Stylist? I grew up riding and competing in the hunter/jumper equestrian sports and rode all over the nation. I won numerous national championships with many different ponies and horses over the years, so horses have been a passion of mine since a little girl. The fashion sense came from a young age when I still remember putting my show coat and riding boots on in the early mornings on the weekends for the horse shows. I couldn’t wait to “dress up ” for the competitions and make sure my pony was ready for the show ring. I would draw horses and fashion illustrations in high school in my notebooks during history and math class (the boring ones, of course!)

Fast forward to college and I still remember sitting in Mr. Mac’s office when we were about to embark on our internship and he said to me, “Ashley, I know how you want to go into the corporate retail world, but I also see you being an Equestrian Stylist one day, an entrepreneur… Think about that… ” I graduated during the downfall of the economy in 2009, and many internships and jobs were dropped. I ended up doing a visual merchandising internship in Palm Beach for Urban Outfitters and then went back to school for my MBA in Entrepreneurship while I worked as a part-time key holder manager for Lilly Pulitzer in Boca Raton. I learned that I wanted a job for myself that would be unaffected by the economy. I knew that I wanted to combine my love for horses and fashion and share it digitally. I still remember that time when I was searching GoDaddy for domain names and just by chance “equestrianstylist.com ” was available! I knew it was meant to be. It

What from the entrepreneurship program and FSU prepared you to launch Equestrian Stylist? Oh wow, where do I start… FSU gave me such a great community from the beginning - I joined Alpha Chi Omega sorority and immediately felt connected to a group of driven and successful women. My sorority ’ s president at the time told me how great the Fashion Study Abroad program was, and I signed up as soon as I could. Studying in Paris, Milan, and London in the fashion program at FSU was my favorite experience during college and opened my eyes to fashion on a deeper level, especially the European trends and how they slowly filter over to the states once they hit the UK. The professors at FSU in the retail merchandising program were so inspiring both in the classroom and out. Learning about their experience in the real world and being able to get that hands on textile experience really helped me visualize how to create an overall brand look for Equestrian Stylist.

What has been your most satisfying moment in business? What has been your biggest challenge? Most satisfying moment was watching American Pharoah cross the finish line in 2015 at the Breeders ’ Cup - everything came together for me and my team that day from a social media standpoint. The biggest challenge? Knowing when to say “no ” and walk away from business or partners that aren’t the right fit.

What key activities would you recommend aspiring entrepreneurs to invest their time in? Invest in your health, both physically and mentally. I have ridden horses my entire life, and I think both physically and mentally that has kept me healthy, and even brought me through some of my health challenges over the years. Reading industry news and being ‘ ahead of the game ’ is also important. Remember that social media can be a good thing for business, but it can also be a downfall ‘ time suck’ . Don ’ t get stuck in the ‘ endless scrolling ’ activity, that wastes your time and can bring you down and cause you to start comparing. Value your time, and use it to make a difference in your business and personal growth. Wake up and read something motivating each day and night. Keep up with your relationships that you value most, send thank you cards in the mail, wish Happy Birthday ’ s, talk to your neighbor on the airplane, you never know who you may meet.

How do you define success? It all depends on the goal. I define success by achieving goals. If you are achieving your goals, you are successful. Don’t get me wrong, business isn’t always about success, either. I’ ve definitely had my fair share of failures, but it always turns out for the right reasons. You learn from it, and you learn to persevere even harder.

What advice do you have for current and future students looking to launch their own business? Persevere and never give up. My dad always told me, “never, ever give up, ever.” It ’ s always stuck with me. It ’ s so easy to get lost in social media and the endless cycle of comparing. Remind yourself why you started or why you are going to start the business and stick to your goals. Focus on your strengths and hire those that can fill your weaknesses. Remember to create a business or a job that you can rely on in a down economy.

Photographed by: Shelley Paulson