Ashleigh Kirsten
Direktor
Ashleigh Kirsten
Direktor
Suite 500
Tampa FL 33607
About
Ashleigh Kirsten is a Director and a member of the Executive team at Benchmark International, where she advances the global M&A company’s mission by seeking and closing deals with business owners and CEOs looking to sell, merge or grow their companies. Her distinct relationship-building style cultivates trust with potential clients, driving an expanded portfolio and increased revenue from closed transactions.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. Petersburg College, an Associate of Science in Nursing from Hillsborough Community College, and Associate of Arts in General Studies from Florida State University.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. Petersburg College, an Associate of Science in Nursing from Hillsborough Community College, and Associate of Arts in General Studies from Florida State University.
Success
As CEO, Ashleigh successfully transformed a startup into a leading national growth management firm, scaling the business to seven figures in just a few years. She also built and led a high-performing executive team, overseeing multiple departments and guiding several healthcare organizations to achieve multi-million dollar successes. Furthermore, Ashleigh played a pivotal role in guiding AK Consultants & Healthcare through a successful M&A process, recognizing the company’s potential for further growth. After identifying Griffin Resources as the ideal partner to elevate the business, she ensured a seamless transition and is now thrilled to stay onboard as an Advisor. In this capacity, Ashleigh provides valuable counsel on growth initiatives, coaches CEO Michelle Griffin in scaling the executive team, establishes and maintains key benchmarks, reviews the P&L, and offers insights into market demand for professional services. Her expertise in strategic partnerships, business development, P&L management, and board-level guidance has been instrumental in positioning the company for continued success and expansion.
Between 2018 and 2021, Ashleigh led business development and sales efforts for home health and hospice care organizations. As Regional Director of Sales and Business Development for Pinnacle Home Care, the largest in Florida, she transformed the company’s lowest-performing region into the top in the state, exceeding revenue goals by 200 percent and delivering 70 percent of the company’s growth. She forged strategic partnerships and diversified revenue streams through a transitional care management program and remote patient monitoring technology. She more than doubled the sales force and increased their overall performance by 66 percent through improved training.
Ashleigh was selected to be featured in Shelly Lynn Hughes’ latest book, Brains & Beauty: 111 Bosses in Lipstick, on November 26, 2024. The book showcases the inspiring stories of 111 women entrepreneurs from 13 countries, each offering a unique perspective on their entrepreneurial journeys. Ashleigh’s inclusion in this prestigious collection underscores her remarkable success and dedication as a trailblazer, highlighting her as a powerful example of leadership and resilience in the business world.
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Education
St. Petersburg College - BSN, Nursing, summa cum laude
Hillsborough Community College - ASN, Nursing, summa cum laude
Florida State University - AA, General Studies, Business & Psychology
Experience
She began her career in clinical sales and business development at iProcedures, the first cloud-based anesthesia EMR company, where a former colleague recruited her to translate clinical needs into product development insight. Soon, her drive and clinical acumen led her to take on account management, where her sales model supported the start-up to scale forty-fold to $20 million in revenue. The company became a Black Book Leader and was named the Best in KLAS #1 anesthesia vendor.
Ashleigh recently navigated the process of selling her company, AK Consultants & Healthcare, LLC, by finding a partner that fit culturally and was poised to take the seven-figure consultancy to new heights. Ashleigh founded and served as CEO of the nation’s only full-service growth management company for post-acute care healthcare businesses. Called to bring together healthcare talent and harness their collective insight and perspective, Ashleigh started the consultancy in 2017 and expanded its service offerings to include business development, recruitment, marketing, operations, and acquisition management. Following its 2024 sale to Griffin Resources, she remains a Board Advisor, counseling on growth initiatives and increasing sales.
Passion
Ashleigh’s deep compassion for fellow CEOs and business owners navigating the challenging journey of business growth and transition is a driving force in her role as Director at Benchmark International. In this position, she channels her passion into securing new clients seeking M&A services, assessing the salability of their businesses, providing strategic growth recommendations, and fostering lasting, trusting relationships with those she works with. For Ashleigh, it’s not just about the transaction—it’s about genuinely helping business leaders achieve their goals and guiding them through one of the most significant steps in their professional lives.
Ashleigh single-handedly raised her three children in the Tampa Bay area and takes great pride in their accomplishments as competitive athletes. She also has a strong passion for women’s flag football, a sport in which her daughter made history as the first to receive a collegiate scholarship for quarterback.