ASHLEY COUP (35) 
Manager, Global Corporate Innovation, Koppers Inc.

Ashley Coup believes that everyone can be an innovator. She’s proven that concept through her work; she has hosted four Koppers Idea Summits generating more than 500 ideas for innovation opportunities using design-thinking strategies. One idea even turned into an entirely new business segment for the company — a service to inspect and to maintain utility poles. She’s also implemented a companywide innovation program where any employee around the globe can submit ideas and have their idea considered for funding.

“You can make innovation accessible to anyone, and anyone can be innovative if they are given the tools, the process, the framework, to allow them,” she says.

Outside of work, Coup volunteers with Beverly’s Birthdays, a nonprofit that provides birthday surprises for kids in need; she also was a former board member for the organization.