From Poverty to Prosperity

Ashmara Lawrence is one of those people with a vision strong enough to take her from circumstances that have defeated many others into a life of prosperity, abundance, and service to others. Originally from New York, she grew up in poverty, a reality that shaped her early years. However, “Poverty never fit me,” she reflects. She spent time in foster care before being adopted by her grandfather and moving to Maryland.

Moving to Maryland was a turning point in many ways. Her grandfather instilled in her a love for learning and self-improvement. Additionally, she encountered something she had never seen before: Black professionals, homeowners, and financially stable families. It was a revelation that set fire to her ambition. 

Yet when the time came to go to college, she found herself without the financial support or the education about how to navigate the costs. The struggle to access higher education led to a series of financial hardships, including multiple evictions. By the summer of 2016, facing her fifth eviction, Ashmara made a bold decision: to learn the skills to turn her financial life around.

That summer, she immersed herself in personal finance education, devouring over 100 books from the library. She made drastic financial changes, living on a tight budget that allowed her to save though she earned only $700 a month. By the end of the summer, she had saved $2,000—it was her first major financial milestone. That $2,000 became the foundation for building her wealth, which she grew into $250,000 through disciplined financial planning, business credit, and sound investment strategies. She also paid off $20,000 in credit card debt in just nine months.

From Student to Educator: The Birth of Ashmara Enterprises

Ashmara describes herself as a student before anything else. For eight years, she absorbed everything she could about personal finance. Then, in 2021, she took the next step: she became certified as a financial coach. The timing was bold—she launched her business in the middle of the pandemic—but she had been preparing for years. She had already built a solid foundation, cutting expenses and leveraging business credit to ensure her venture was financially sound from day one.

A Mission to Empower Women Entrepreneurs

Ashmara Enterprises is dedicated to helping women business owners, particularly first-generation six- and seven-figure earners. “Black women in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area are making the money, but they’ve never been taught how to manage it,” she explains. Her mission is to help them break generational cycles of financial instability, build wealth, and retire rich.

The company’s services include:

• Financial Coaching & Education – Guiding clients to make sound financial decisions.
• Budgeting & Financial Recovery – Personalized strategies for managing expenses and eliminating debt.
• Debt Reduction & Investment Education – Helping clients develop debt repayment plans and understand investment opportunities.
• Retirement Planning – Ensuring clients are financially prepared for the future.

She has also developed a budgeting system with the help of a developer, allowing clients to plug in their financial data and receive a structured plan to pay off debt efficiently.

An Emerging Leader in the Local Business Community

Ashmara is deeply involved in the Maryland business ecosystem. She is a member of the Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC) and serves as a WBEC Metro NY/Greater DMV Forum Leader, advocating for women entrepreneurs and creating opportunities for business growth. She also holds multiple certifications, including:

• WBENC Certification (WBE)
• Montgomery County’s Local Small Business Reserve Program (LSBRP)
• Maryland Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
• Small Business Administration (SBA)
• Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)

Her expertise and active participation in business networks make her a sought-after speaker and advisor. She encourages Black-owned businesses to take advantage of certification programs that provide credibility and open doors to corporate and government contracting opportunities.

Scaling Ashmara Enterprises

As Ashmara Enterprises continues to grow, Ashmara remains committed to her mission of financial empowerment. “To help the poor, you cannot be poor,” she notes. Her focus is on scaling her business, reaching more women entrepreneurs, and developing more tools to make financial education accessible and actionable.

For those looking to take control of their financial futures, Ashmara Lawrence offers not just guidance, but a roadmap to wealth and stability. To learn more about Ashmara Enterprises, visit her website.