About T.E.A

Our Approach

Ashley Hardin, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Exceptional Athlete started her collegiate athletic career at Northern Arizona University then transferred to Grand Canyon University where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Fitness and Wellness degree. She continued her collegiate basketball career while earning her Master of Science in Leadership degree. Ashley started her professional career in higher education while pursing (and now maintains) the Series 6, 26, 63 and 65 financial investment licenses through FINRA. She also has her life insurance license. With that, The Exceptional Athlete was created from a combination of love for sport and a passion for financial literacy.

While being an inductee to the Hall Of Fame for women’s basketball at Northern Arizona University, Ashley continues to enjoy the sport she loves as a semi-professional basketball player on the team of the Tucson Sol which is affiliated with the Women’s Basketball Development Association (WBDA). In addition to playing in the WBDA, she also plays in various women’s leagues throughout the valley. Ashley has also been a co-host for the Sports Wrap Up Radio Show and partnered with Positive Image Sports to coach in many youth basketball camps.  She also the student-athlete consultant for the Wheaton Solutions organization and strives to educate young athletes and their families about the college recruitment cycle and best practices to becoming a successful athlete inside and outside of their given sport.  A few other ways Ashley has been contributing to her community is; she has given 80+ financial literacy presentations to various faith based institutions and civic organizations, recruited and trained a team of Financial Analysts, was a participant in the USA Basketball: Women In The Game conference, an Advisory Board Member for the Linking Sports And Communities organization, a youth sports – basketball referee for the Alhambra School District and Christ Church of the Valley, and assistant Coach for the AZ Venom girls’ basketball club team. She is ambitious, philanthropic, and has a championship athletic background that overflows into her professional career. Her main focus is to empower her community and assist others in reaching their potential. Just as the video “More than a Student-Athlete” states below, almost all collegiate athletes will be going pro in something other than their sport.