Ashley Murphree is the CEO and Founder of Carpe Diem Private Preschool. She is completely dedicated to the task of offering exceptional early childhood education and care to families who recognize the importance of providing a strong, nurturing foundation of learning in the first years of their child’s life. She is also a steadfast advocate for women, children, and the arts.

Ashley was born in Saigon during the Vietnam War. In 1979, she and her family escaped Vietnam huddled in the bottom of a small, wooden boat. It was an arduous ordeal, but they survived; and eventually, they found their way to the Dallas area in 1980 and settled in Garland. With a strong work ethic and a great deal of determination, Ashley put herself through college at the University of Texas at Arlington, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration. She worked for several years as a Human Resource professional.

When Ashley planned to have children of her own, she did extensive research and wasn’t pleased with the available options for childcare. At that point, she decided to open her own preschool, which would offer the very best staff, facilities, and curriculum based on the most current research on developmentally appropriate learning and practices for young children. She also wanted to change the widely held view of childcare givers as undervalued employees to that of professional teachers, by valuing their expertise and providing corporate benefits to her staff.

The result is Carpe Diem Private Preschool, an American dream come true. Carpe Diem Richardson opened in 2001, Frisco in 2005, Allen in 2009, and Southlake in 2010. Ashley plans to continue to expand, which will provide more children and families access to Carpe Diem’s exceptional and exemplary approach to early childhood education and care.

In her spare time, Ashley has given many motivational talks to community groups focusing on women in the workforce, leadership skills, and the importance of education at every age level. Region 10 and the Richardson Junior League named Ashley as one of its “Sheroes,” who are young women who have succeeded despite the odds by improving themselves through education. These women’s stories serve as an inspiration to others.

Ashley’s amazing personal and business story has also been the subject of many articles in the Dallas Morning News, the Dallas Business Journal, which awarded her the 2012 Minority Business Leader, University of Texas at Arlington Magazine, which named her an “Entrepreneur Extraordinaire.” National media, such as Entrepreneur Magazine listed her on their “Hot List” and The New York Times, have also featured Ashley’s business savvy.