ABOUT

Hi, I’m Ashlee.

Founder of SOWN. Writer, traveler, and a woman who plants with intention. I write for women who are choosing their lives on purpose: what they read, where they go, how they live, and who they keep close.

  • 41

    Countries explored

  • 13

    Solo trips

  • 6

    Cities called home

  • 2025

    The year I pressed publish

THE STORY

A life that feels like mine

Over the last decade, I’ve called Washington D.C., Nairobi, Mexico City, Medellín, Lisbon, and Sydney home. Along the way I built a career in international development, managing large-scale programs across conflict-affected regions.

Somewhere between the overnight flights and the unfamiliar streets, something shifted.

“The life I was building didn’t need to look like anyone else’s. It just needed to feel like mine.”

In 2025, during a career sabbatical in Nepal, I finally pressed publish on a dream I’d been holding for years. What started as WokenHeart, a blog written in an uncertain, in-between season of my life, has grown into SOWN.

Today I write every word, spotlight an extraordinary woman every month, and believe 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 you’ll find here

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.

A lifestyle journal for women building lives worth living. Honest, warm, and never preachy.

Life · Personal essays on building a life on your own terms.

Travel · Stories and guides from 41 countries and counting.

Wellness · Rituals and practices for a steadier, softer you.

Culture · What to read and watch, and the women worth knowing.

SAY HELLO

I'd love to hear from you.

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

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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.