Person standing in a stone archway with a scenic view in the background.

ABOUT

MEET ASHLEE

Founder of SOWN. Writer. Traveler. A woman who plants with intention.

THE STORY

Ashlee has lived in more places than most people visit. Over the last decade, she's called Washington D.C., Nairobi, Mexico City, Medellín, Lisbon, and Sydney home. Across 41 countries and 13 solo trips, she built a career in international development, managing large-scale programs across conflict-affected regions.

Somewhere between the overnight flights and the unfamiliar streets, she realized that the life she was building didn't need to look like anyone else's. It just needed to feel like hers.

In 2025, during a career sabbatical in Nepal, she finally pressed publish on a dream she'd been holding for years. What started as WokenHeart, a blog written in an uncertain, in-between season of her life, has evolved into SOWN, a lifestyle platform for women who are choosing intentionally. What they read. Where they go. How they live. Who they keep close.

Today, SOWN covers life, travel, wellness, and culture for women who are planting something beautiful. Ashlee writes every word, spotlights extraordinary women every month, and believes that it takes a village to build a life worth living.

Multiple hot air balloons floating over rock formations and historic stone buildings during a sunset in Cappadocia, Turkey.
A woman standing on a rocky trail during sunset, overlooking a lake with a Mount Batur in Bali in the background.
Black woman in a white dress walking through a lavender field on a sunny day in Moldova.
A Black woman in white pants and a white top standing inside an ancient stone temple with a tall, intricately carved tower in the background, under a clear blue sky in Siem Reap.
A Black woman sitting at a wooden desk working on a laptop, with sunlight coming through a window behind her, during daytime.

The platform

What SOWN Is

SOWN is a lifestyle journal for women who are building lives worth living. Every month, readers get personal essays, travel stories, wellness content, culture picks, and conversations with women worth knowing. It's honest, it's warm, and it's never preachy.

Scenic view of a European cityscape with colorful buildings, red-tiled roofs, and a cathedral in the background. The foreground features a rooftop terrace with seating, greenery, and people enjoying the atmosphere under a clear blue sky at sunset.

41

Countries visited

13

Solo trips

4

Continents called home

1

Village and growing

Say Hello

I'd love to hear from you.

Whether you want to share your story, collaborate, or just say hi.

Email me
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THE NEWSLETTER

Join the women who read SOWN every month.

One email a month. Life, travel, wellness, and culture — delivered like a letter from a friend who's been everywhere and wants to share what's good.