Our Core:
Healing, Global Expertise,
and Shared Vision
Healing, Global Expertise,
and Shared Vision
Growing Edge exists to nurture those who care for others by creating spaces of collective care; where healing, creativity, and connection are woven into the fabric of how we work and lead.
Ashley Fargnoli (she/her) is a dance/movement therapist and licensed psychotherapist who has spent much of her life walking alongside communities affected by trauma, displacement, and conflict. Her journey into this work began over 15 years ago in Kolkata, India, where she witnessed the powerful role that movement and creativity could play in healing and reclaiming agency; particularly for survivors of human trafficking. That experience shaped not only her career, but also her deep belief in the wisdom of the body and the resilience of the human spirit. Since then, Ashley has worked with refugees, survivors of violence, LGBTQ+ communities, and immigrant populations across the U.S., South Asia, the Balkans, and Western Europe. She spent three years living in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where she developed reconciliation and arts-based integration projects for Roma youth. Her work has taken her to Sri Lanka, Nepal, Serbia, and beyond; always centering creative expression as a path to connection and care. Ashley holds an MA in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling from Columbia College Chicago, and another in Cultural Project Management from the Institute of Political Studies in France. She has taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Through Growing Edge Consultants, Ashley brings together her clinical grounding, global experience, and love of movement to support teams and organizations in building cultures of embodied care, resilience, and belonging. Learn more!
Shehani Perera
Shehani Perera is a Sri Lankan entrepreneur and business strategist who founded her first sustainability-focused company in 2016 while navigating the early years of motherhood. Building the company from the ground up gave her practical, hands-on experience in leadership, operations, growth, and long-term decision-making.
Over the years, her work has been recognized within Sri Lanka’s entrepreneurial community through industry awards, inclusion in 35 Under 35 lists, and participation in panel discussions and conferences. These opportunities reflected not only her business progress but also her contribution to conversations around sustainability and responsible enterprise.
Through the realities of running a company — managing teams, adapting to market shifts, and learning from both setbacks and successes — Shehani developed a steady and experience-led approach to leadership. Her professional journey has shaped her understanding of governance, accountability, and the importance of balancing vision with practical execution.
Alongside her business background, Shehani is a certified yoga instructor, Human Design practitioner and holds a Degree in Business Management and HR. Over time, she began integrating strategic thinking with personal development frameworks, supporting other founders in building businesses that are aligned, sustainable, and commercially viable.
She has worked with over 50 business owners across different stages of growth, offering guidance rooted in lived experience rather than theory. Her approach combines structure, clarity, and long-term thinking with an understanding of the personal challenges that often accompany leadership.