“I think if I helped one person follow their dream no matter what it is, and inspired them to take that risk and make that leap, that would be good enough for me.”
That is the goal of Peterborough entrepreneur Ashley Flynn, and her motivation for wanting to share her personal and professional journey on a global platform.
Flynn, who is the CEO and lead designer of the residential and commercial design and build firm Black Rock Developments, will be featured in an episode of an all-new television series premiering in summer 2025 that spotlights industry experts from around the world and their stories of success.
With a star-studded cast, Legacy Makers from Inside Success TV is described as “a masterclass for building success.” In each episode, an industry leader from a range of backgrounds will share the strategies and tools they used to get to where they are.
“It really appealed to me because the premise of the show is to educate other entrepreneurs and talk about adversity and how we overcome it,” says Flynn. “I’m constantly trying to figure out ways to help other people that don’t know where to begin, and what better way to get my message out there and help encourage other people or inspire at least one other person than auditioning?”
Not her first time auditioning for television, Flynn applied by filling out a form detailing her story before virtually connecting with the producers. She will be going to the studio in Miami, Florida in early February for filming, and she will be featured in a podcast following the episode’s release.
“I also have to shoot a bunch of B-roll footage here, just going from job site to job site so people can actually see what we do,” explains Flynn, noting that her friends, family, and former clients will be interviewed for the show as well.
Created and hosted by business influencer and celebrity marketer Rudy Mawer, each season of Legacy Makers is divided into its own theme, covering topics of marketing, startups, leadership, and sports, among others.
Through legacy makers from across the world will be featured on the show, Flynn is not the only one who will be representing Peterborough — Robert Gauvreau of Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory is also scheduled to film an episode.
When Flynn arrives at the studio in Miami, she will be sharing her personal story in building Black Rock Developments from the ground up after fleeing from her abusive first husband with her one-year-old daughter when she was in her early 20s.
“There was a very long period of time where I never thought I was going to get out of that situation,” she says. “When I finally did, rather than relief, I think I felt fear.”
After staying with her parents for only a short time before being asked to leave, Flynn and her daughter moved into to a small apartment in a “bad” area in Toronto. Flynn was bartending at night to be with her daughter during the day and working three jobs, all while going back to school to focus on her passion for renovation and design.
“I had to essentially claw my way back up to give my daughter the life that she deserved and, to be honest, that I deserved — although it took me a long time to realize my self-worth after being emotionally and physically and mentally abused for so many years,” she says.
From there, she bought a “really horrible house and started fixing it up one by one and little by little,” which eventually turned into Black Rock Developments. Despite thinking she’d never date again, years later Flynn met her current husband.
“I found love in a totally unexpected time in my life and was able to follow my passions and build something up just by grit and bearing,” she says. “It wasn’t easy for me but if I could start from absolutely nothing, than anybody can.”
Flynn admits she kept her experience a secret for a long time, with only her immediate family knowing about it.
“I think there’s a shame when it comes to talking about situations like that,” she says. “Another reason why they’re putting me on the show is to break that stigma that is attached with speaking out against violence against women and children, or just violence in general.”
“I’m not ashamed of it and it’s made me who I am,” Flynn reflects. “I would never wish that upon my worst enemy but, without those life experiences, I wouldn’t be who I am today or in the position that I am. In a weird way, I’m sort of grateful for the hard lessons because I’m able to educate people how not to fall into those traps or how to get out of them, because there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”
On her professional journey, Flynn has always been an advocate for women in the skilled trades, which is something she hopes to inspire during her episode of Legacy Makers.
She explains that often women might feel the need to “portray a more masculine approach” in a male-dominated industry, but it shouldn’t be that way as women in trades should still enjoy “the best of both worlds” in exploring their feminine sides.
“I love clothes and getting my nails and hair done, and I have no problem showing the men that just because I am a girl and I like to wear pink doesn’t mean I can’t swing a hammer and crush your walls or be in the trades,” Flynn says. “It’s about inspiring women that you don’t have to fit the normal checklist, and you can create your own.”
“There is no right or wrong way to look or be when you’re in this industry,” she adds. “I’m hoping that people will take one look at me in my insane outfits and know I can dress like that, yet can still put out a pair of blue jeans and a pair of steel-toe boots and people will look at me the same way.”
When asked what being a legacy maker means to her, Flynn says it’s about “leaving an impression in a positive way and encouraging other people to follow their dreams and their passions.”
“I would be so happy if I was able to encourage and inspire other people who were struggling with coming out of an abusive situation, trying to find the right career path, or too scared to start their own company because there’s a million things that might stack up against them,” Flynn says. “Hard work is necessary, but you can overcome adversity, and I’d just like to help one person.”
Flynn’s episode on Legacy Makers will be released in summer 2025 exclusively on Inside Success TV, which will be available on streaming platforms and the Inside Success TV app and website.
For more information on Legacy Makers, visit www.legacymakerstv.com.
