In this talk, Ashley Holt exposes the $500 billion confidence industry that sells the illusion of confidence while ignoring the true foundation of success—self-worth.

Filmed live at the iconic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, this talk was selected as 1 of only 15 speakers chosen to compete in the WILDX American Idol for Speakers Competition, presented by WILDX and USA Today.

This transformational event brought together some of the most influential voices in personal development, spirituality, media, and thought leadership.

Celebrity Judges Included:
• Richard Green – Media Personality & TEDx Expert
• Donnie Knipps – USA Today
• Michael Beckwith – Founder of Agape International Spiritual Center
• Hazel Ortega – Founder of High Tide Global Foundation
• Joanna McPherson – Master Coach for Thought Leaders

Hosted by powerhouse women:
• Rhonda Swan – Founder of WILDX, global branding leader, and host of the Rhonda Swan Show and the Wall Street Minute
• Jules Schroeder – Founder of Unconventional Life, Artist, Entrepreneur and International Voice of Change

Standing on the Saban Theatre stage—where icons, legends, and cultural voices have spoken—was an unforgettable moment of truth, vulnerability, and purpose.

“We Don’t Have a Confidence Problem — We Have a Self-Worth Crisis,” is a call to elevate the conversation from surface-level empowerment to deep-rooted identity transformation. This message is at the heart of my work and my upcoming book, She Means Business.

Amazon Prime release coming soon.

Here’s what you didn’t see:
Before stepping onto that Beverly Hills stage, I had already lived the realities behind my message. My lowest moments were never a confidence issue—they were symptoms of a deeper problem: a systemic self-worth crisis that affects women at every socioeconomic level.

Those experiences now shape my work: advocating for law reform, strengthening protections for women, and elevating national awareness around why self-worth education must become a standard in schools, workplaces, and culture at large.

This talk is not inspirational storytelling; it’s the foundation of a national conversation. “We Don’t Have a Confidence Problem. We Have a Self-Worth Crisis” reframes what’s truly at stake. Confidence culture is not solving the deeper issue. Self-worth is connected to nearly every major challenge affecting women and youth today—from leadership gaps and domestic-violence patterns to burnout, perfectionism, and the chronic pressure to “earn” our value. Research shows that self-worth deficits significantly contribute to the broader mental-health crisis impacting students nationwide.

Advocacy and National Relevance
Beyond the personal narrative, this message aligns with broader policy and systemic reform. My lived experience drives my work in national advocacy—championing self-worth literacy as a core competency that shapes safety, leadership, performance, and long-term well-being.

This talk is one piece of a much larger effort: elevating self-worth from a private struggle to a public priority, and ensuring that the systems influencing our lives—education, leadership, media, and legislation—reflect that shift.