Meet Ashlei Dabney-Griffin | TV Producer / Storyteller Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashlei Dabney-Griffin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashlei, what is the most important factor behind your success?
THEE most important factor behind my success? Faith—the kind that makes you take risks even when your inner voice is like, “Girl, are we really doing this?” But here’s what I’ve learned: every time I’ve bet on myself, even when it felt like I was stepping off a cliff with nothing but sheer audacity, it’s led to bigger and better things. Like the time I decided my paycheck needed a glow-up and asked for a raise—heart pounding, but head held high—because, why not? Or when I stopped waiting to be discovered like some hidden treasure and straight-up asked for the promotion I knew I had earned. Spoiler alert: I got them. Every one of those moments required me to push past fear, lean into faith, and remember that closed mouths don’t get fed (and I like to eat!). Now, I won’t lie—there have been times when fear whispered a little too loud, and I punked out on opportunities. But I always find my way back to the version of me that goes for it—the one who fights for what she believes and, more importantly, what she deserves.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My biggest flex? Going from a musical theatre major with Broadway dreams to a full-fledged unscripted television producer working on some of Hollywood’s most obsessively watched, culture-shifting, cult-favorite shows. Talk about a plot twist! And let me tell you—it was not easy. I always felt like I was playing catch-up since this wasn’t my original field of study, but I had two things working in my favor: being in the right place at the right time and just enough shivering confidence to go for it… and then keep going.

I didn’t always know how to do the job before I started it. I didn’t always understand the niche, nuanced culture of certain programming before I had to produce it. And networking with people who didn’t know (or care) about my accomplishments? Whew—frightening. But every setback, layoff, bad decision, and straight-up NO was just setting me up for an even stronger comeback. Through it all, I kept showing up to every gig as my whole self—messy yet poised, organized yet flexible, cheerful yet focused, and always hardworking and dedicated.

I’ve overcome challenges by sitting still long enough to understand the lesson, pushing past fear to stay resilient, and surrounding myself with people who refuse to let me shrink. And recently, as I’ve navigated through major grief, life has reinforced one relentless lesson: KEEP GOING. Keep moving. Keep pushing. Keep believing that you deserve everything you’re working for—and then some.

Oh, and I WON AN EMMY for my work on RuPaul’s Drag Race!!! That’s really cool!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh, you know we’re doing this trip right! Once the homie touches down at LAX, we’re kicking things off strong—and by strong, I mean a 6:15 AM hot yoga class (because nothing says “welcome to LA” like sweating out your sins before the day even starts). Then, we’re refueling at Commissary Coffee for one of their seasonal pick-me-uppers before heading back to my place, where I’ll personally whip up THEE best avocado toast in all of LaLaLand—don’t debate me on this.

If they’re feeling outdoorsy, they can tag along with me and my kid for storytime music play in the park, or if they’re more of an art-head, we’ll hit up The BROAD for some dope exhibits (because culture, duh). Now, when it’s time to eat—and let’s be real, that’s the main event—we’re grabbing Leo’s Tacos (non-negotiable) and picking up a Prince Street Pizza slice for a little DIY Elysian Park picnic situation.

At this point, our wallets are looking real thin, so we’ll lean into the budget-friendly side of LA and hit up a free Art Walk—because why pay when the city is literally an open-air museum? But don’t get it twisted, we’re still living it up, which means drag shows in WeHo, a low-key house party in Koreatown, and if we’re still standing, maybe a day trip to Santa Barbara for a little wine tour. We’ll dash back just in time to catch a Dockweiler Beach bonfire kickback, and if my babysitter actually shows up on time (manifesting this), we’ll definitely close the trip with a relaxing night at a Korean spa—because after all this fun, we deserve.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oof, my acceptance speech! First off, let’s be clear—the ratio of haters to lovers in my life has always leaned heavily in favor of love, support, and people rooting for me like I’m the main character (because, obviously). In my formative years, my angel godmother, Cookie, was my biggest champion until her very last breath. My closest family members, my best friend since 8th grade, and my good girlfriends (shoutout to Nicole!) have always been the ones to pull me out of my feelings when I start getting too cozy in them. I truly believe God handpicked these people to walk beside me—encouraging me, mentoring me, and giving me permission to be bold until I found the courage to do it on my own. And let’s not forget my husband and son, who deal with me every single day and somehow still choose to love me with their whole hearts (a true act of patience and devotion). I’m also endlessly grateful for the mentors who proudly speak my name in rooms I hadn’t yet been invited into—because those moments have changed the trajectory of my life in ways they’ll never fully know. And when I need a little extra push? These books are my secret weapons: The Four Agreements (Don Miguel Ruiz) , Patti’s Pearls (Patti LaBelle), and every single Brianna Wiest & Iyanla Vanzant book ever published.

Website: www.fabashdabtv.com

Instagram: @fabashdab

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlei-dabney-88b75226/

Image Credits
Dario Griffin
West Buchanan