Ashley Balian

Though currently running a bar as Bar Manager in Oxford City Centre, I have 10+ years of multifaceted professional working experience in people-facing roles and have held a leadership position in every job role I have ever had. From managing operations at LA Fitness, to becoming an Activity Manager for academic summer programmes the past two summers, and even in my current position as a Bar Manager in Oxford’s City Centre, I have learned to effectively manage and support incredibly diverse teams of people irregardless of group size or demographics.

Beyond my professional experiences, as a recent MsC in Sociology graduate from the University of Oxford, I spent the entirety of my academic career studying Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access & Outreach within institutional spheres, furthering my ability to mold to my working environment, make individuals from any range of diverse backgrounds feel comfortable, welcome and safe, and manage (and recruit) teams of people who are made stronger and brought together by the very differences that could - in alternative contexts and team environments - incite group division, negatively impacting team cohesion.

My work and educational experiences, given the breadth and diversity of the roles I have held, have allowed me the opportunity to become a jack of all trades - my greatest strength in the workplace and beyond. For example, in my current role as a Bar Manager and Bookseller within Oxford’s Covered Market, I have the opportunity to utilise skills I have acquired in sales, barista work, bartending/mixology, events planning and management, team management, customer service, marketing and graphic design, and even carpentry and interior design.

Though I have been living in the United Kingdom for nearly 3.5 years now, as an American citizen living in the country on a Graduate Immigration Route visa, I am looking for work within any industry/company that is willing/able to sponsor a Skilled Worker and/or Health & Care Worker visa as it is my intention to remain in the United Kingdom. Beyond the necessity to acquire visa sponsorship, I ideally hope to find work in a people-facing position that allows for a dynamic working environment, inclusive of both more passive and active forms of work (ie. both desk and active working duties).

I am quick to learn, an incredibly hard worker, an asset to any team environment, capable of excelling at any and all tasks required of me, and a passionate worker who puts all of myself into any job I hold.

GULP FICTION BOOKS                                                                                                            Oxford, UK

Bar Manager and Bookseller                                                                                August 2023 – Present

• Manage all bar operations including supplier management, the training and compliance of all staff, and all location marketing and development
• Coordinate and run all location events and ensure good supplier management and high levels of customer satisfaction

LEADING EDUCATION                                                                                                            Oxford, UK

Activity Manager                                                                                                May 2023 – August 2023

• Plan, organize, and manage the activity programme, ensuring each activity and excursion is prepared, implemented, and safely and correctly supervised according to Safeguarding and Welfare Regulations 
• Serve as one of three on-site senior managers, alongside the Centre Director and Director of Studies, to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the centre
• Manage and motivate the team of Mentors involved in each activity and excursion, ensuring they are properly prepared to lead, guide, and protect all students

THE HOUSE BAR                                                                                                                       Oxford, UK

Full-Time Bartender/Mixologist                                                                    October 2022 – April 2023

BRANCA CAFÉ AND RESTAURANT                                                                                       Oxford, UK

Full-Time Server, Bartender, and Barista                                              March 2022 – December 2022

BUCKSMORE EDUCATION                                                                                                     Oxford, UK

Activity Manager                                                                                               June 2022 – August 2022

• Plan, organize, and manage the activity programme, ensuring each activity and excursion is prepared, implemented, and safely and correctly supervised according to set Safeguarding and Welfare Regulations 
• Serve as one of the three on-site senior managers, alongside the Centre Manager and Director of Studies, to ensure the smooth day to day running of the centre
• Manage and motivate the team of Counsellors involved in each activity and excursion, ensuring they are properly prepared to lead, guide, and protect all students

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD                                                                                                      Oxford, UK

St. Antony’s College Co-VP for Welfare                                         December 2020 – December 2021

• Provide support and resources to Antonians struggling with any welfare-related issues
• Devise and lead in-person, virtual, and hybrid events to support welfare and overall well-being with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic
• Create and manage social accounts for the St. Antony’s College Graduate Common Room (GCR) Welfare Team
• Create and disseminate visual designs for the St. Antony’s College Welfare Team using Adobe Creative Cloud

Graduate Joint Consultative Committee Representative              October 2021 – September 2021

• Serve as a necessary liaison between peers and department leaders within the Department of Sociology
• Combine my passion for mental health with motivational leadership, independent problem-solving skills, and exceptional Facilitate more constructive methods of communication between students and the department, with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic

St. Antony’s College Student Assistant                                        September 2021 – November 2021

• Support incoming Antonians in their transition to the University, including student registration processes
• Effectively communicate answers to all new student queries and guide students to further resources if necessary
• Serve as a student leader and guide for all St. Antony’s College 2021-2022 Welcome Week events

St. Antony’s College Graphic Artist                                                   October 2021 – September 2021

• Design visual content to communicate messages for St. Antony’s College and St. Antony’s GCR
• Ensure timely creation and completion of necessary visual design messages to disseminate via online social channels

LA FITNESS                                                                                                  December 2019 – June 2020

Operations Manager                                                                                                 Stevenson Ranch, CA

• Manage, hire, train, and develop a staff of 25+ employees from three separate departments
• Combine my passion for health with motivational leadership, independent problem-solving skills, and exceptional customer service to facilitate an environment that will successfully contribute to improving healthy lifestyles
• Manage all aspects pertaining to fitness accounts including clearing up declined accounts, balances owed, and handling billing matters

STUDENT LEGAL SERVICES                                                                           October 2018 – June 2019

UC San Diego Legal Research Intern                                                                                  UC San Diego

• Conduct legal research for student cases under attorney supervision and contribute to the Student Legal Services blog to spread awareness of current legal issues across campus
• Support marketing and outreach efforts at Student Legal Services to raise awareness of this legal avenue available to students
• Lead a Discover the Law workshop to educate attending students about specific aspects of law and legal research
• Consistently maintain student confidentiality to build trust and maintain respect for every client

UC SAN DIEGO                                                                                                  January 2018 – June 2018

Department of Sociology Research Apprentice                                                               UC San Diego

• Work with UCSD Sociology Department Professor (PI) on a research study focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in American law schools
• Work with PI and one additional research apprentice to cultivate our study from the ground up, beginning with primary data collection sourced from a multitude of law school websites
• Compile and organize law school data collected on: university DEI statements and mission statements; faculty information; Dean’s messages; school curricula; and more

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Achieved qualifying Emergency First Aid at Work certification as of 7 July 2023
• Approved Enhanced DBS Disclosure Report as of 13 August 2023 
• Skilled in methods of qualitative sociological data collection and analyses including proficiency in organizing and conducting interviews as well as in qualitative data transcription and coding
• Skilled in methods of quantitative sociological data collection and analyses including proficiency in the analyses of new data sets, historical research, web scraping and coding, and interviews using Stata 
• Computer proficient in Microsoft Word (65 WPM), Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Dedoose, OneDrive, Canva, and Adobe

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD                                                                                                        Oxford, UK

Master of Science, Sociology                                                                                                   October 2020 – March 2022

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO                                                                         La Jolla, CA

Bachelor of Arts, Sociology: Law and Society                                         September 2017 – June 2019 Minor: Political Science

• Awarded Summa Cum Laude 06/19 – GPA: 3.95
• Awarded Department Honors in Sociology: Law and Society with High Distinction

COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS                                                                                                Valencia, CA

Associate of Science in Accounting                                                                August 2015 – June 2017

• Awarded Summa Cum Laude 06/17 – GPA: 4.0

HONORS AND AWARDS

Awarded Outstanding Academic Paper Award for an Exemplary Academic Paper – UC San Diego Department of Sociology 

Awarded Membership to the University of California, San Diego Alpha Kappa Delta Honor Society

Awarded Membership to The Caledonian Society and the Steward Society of John Muir College 

Honored as a Valedictorian of College of the Canyon’s Graduating Class of 2017 Awarded Membership to the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society