Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Hicks.
Hi Ashley, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story really begins with two things I’ve always cared deeply about: hospitality and purpose. I’ve been the friend planning the dinner, designing the experience, making sure every detail felt intentional — for as long as I can remember. And alongside that, I’ve always carried a heart for giving back. For using whatever I’ve been blessed with to lift others. At some point I realized those two things didn’t have to live in separate corners of my life.
Long before Sip and Serve Houston, I spent years in corporate America — in medical device and technology consulting and sales, and eventually in DEI leadership, where I had the opportunity to help build inclusive talent programs, establish partnerships with HBCUs and HSIs, and invest in the next generation of diverse professionals. That work affirmed something I already believed: when you pour into people intentionally, extraordinary things happen.
I left that chapter in 2023 carrying that conviction with me — and I channeled it into building something of my own.
That’s the spark behind Sip and Serve Houston. I started noticing something about the community around me — incredibly stylish, ambitious people who love a beautiful experience and who also have a real philanthropic spirit. So many of them want to do something meaningful; they just don’t always have the outlet. Sip and Serve became that outlet. We’re a curated experience company that produces elevated, immersive events in partnership with nonprofits — where every gathering becomes a chance to give back. My philosophy is simple: we don’t just attend; we serve.
Our inaugural event, Sip for Scholars, benefited the Posse Foundation – Houston — an organization I serve on the Leadership Council for — and raised over $11,000. What made that night so special wasn’t only the dollars raised. It was watching leaders across industries invest, in real time, in the next generation of excellence. That’s the model. That’s the magic.
Today, I’m in production for Plated with Purpose, an intimate dinner experience at The Only Original Art Gallery benefiting the She Is A CEO Foundation, which empowers young girls to see themselves as leaders and builders. Every event we produce is a love letter to Houston — and a reminder that giving back can, and should, feel exquisite.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. I don’t think meaningful things usually are.
What I didn’t plan for was the timing. After leaving corporate America in 2023, I wasn’t rushing into anything. I was intentional about stepping back — being present for my kids, my husband, reclaiming my time, and remembering who I was outside of a title. Sip and Serve Houston grew out of that space. Not forced. Just true.
The first event made it undeniable. But undeniable and easy are two very different things.
Securing sponsorships remains one of the hardest parts — especially operating in a for-profit model with a philanthropic mission, which requires sponsors to think differently about where and how they invest. Building a committed team of women, all of whom have lives and responsibilities beyond this work, takes a different kind of trust and leadership. And holding the balance between staying profitable and doing everything in our reach to help increase our client’s giving potential is something I think about constantly.
The road hasn’t been smooth. But every challenge has made the work more intentional — and the impact more meaningful.
As you know, we’re big fans of Sip and Serve Houston LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Sip and Serve Houston LLC is a curated experience company. We produce elevated, immersive events — intimate dinners, galas, mixers, and cultural events — in partnership with nonprofits, funded through corporate sponsorships and brand activations. Our tagline is: Where every pour has purpose, and that’s not just branding. Our tagline is the operating philosophy behind every single thing we do.
Our model lives at the intersection of three relationships working in harmony: corporate sponsors who want their investment to create real community impact, nonprofit partners whose missions deserve a platform worthy of their work, and guests who want a meaningful, beautiful experience that goes beyond a typical night out. We sit at the center of all three — and we manage every piece of it.
On the event production side, we handle everything from concept to execution. That means venue selection, vendor coordination, catering, bar programs, floral and design elements, ticketing, and the full guest experience from the moment someone walks through the door to the moment they leave. We are intentional about every detail because the details are what make people feel something. Our events have featured silent art auctions, curated menus, specialty cocktail experiences, and live programming — all designed to feel cohesive, elevated, and purposeful.
On the sponsorship side, we develop and manage full corporate sponsorship packages — creating tiered opportunities that allow companies to align their brand with a high-quality experience and a vetted nonprofit cause. This is not checkbox philanthropy. We connect sponsors to a room full of engaged, ambitious, community-minded Houston professionals who are paying attention.
On the nonprofit partnership side, we are selective and intentional about who we partner with. We identify organizations whose missions align with the values of our audience — equity, access, entrepreneurship, education, and empowerment — and we build each event around elevating their work. Our goal is always to maximize the donation potential for our beneficiary while delivering an experience that stands entirely on its own.
Our events have benefited the Posse Foundation – Houston, the See A Need Meet A Need Foundation, and the She Is A CEO Foundation — which empowers young girls to see themselves as leaders and builders. This fall, we will partner with Miron Crosby during AfroTech’s conference in Houston, benefiting When All Else Fails — a collaboration that signals exactly where this brand is going.
When someone walks into a Sip and Serve event, they feel it immediately — a room that’s been thoughtfully curated and filled with people who are genuinely easy to be around. Ambitious, generous, like-minded. The kind of room you don’t want to leave. That feeling is not accidental. It is designed, deliberately, every time.
We are not a nonprofit. We are not a traditional event company. We are something Houston hasn’t quite seen before — and we built it from scratch.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Here’s something most people would never guess: I used to be afraid of public speaking. The woman behind the elevated dinner, the curated room, the intentional experience — genuinely uncomfortable in front of a crowd. What forced me through it wasn’t confidence. It was passion. When you believe in something deeply enough, you stop waiting until you’re ready and start showing up anyway. Sip and Serve Houston demanded a version of me I had to grow into. I’m grateful it did.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @SipandServeHouston
