I'm thrilled to share the next episode of our podcast that's all about prioritizing happiness, and knowing when to make tough choices to achieve it. I had the privilege of sitting down with the incredible Ashley Grech, Chief Revenue Officer at Xero and mom to 3 under 9, who opened up about her life's juggling act.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I would be grateful if you left a review on your podcast platform of choice (links below). It takes 20 seconds from you, but makes a massive difference to me 🙏
TLDR
Tune in to hear Ashley’s take on…
👩💼 Workplace Culture: Ashley gives us the inside scoop on how to foster a supportive work environment for parents. She's a firm believer in transparency and the power of a strong support network.
🤹♀️ "Having It All": Is it a myth? Ashley challenges the notion and shares her secret sauce for managing it all – hint: delegation and automation are your friends.
👶 Maternity Leave: Learn how Ashley navigated the complexities of maternity leave, from candid conversations with employers to making bold life choices for her well-being (like leaving her role while pregnant to protect her own mental health).
🛫 Work Travel Meets Family Travel: Ever thought of mixing business trips with family time? Ashley shares how she found a role that allows both.
💪 Embracing Challenges: Get ready to be motivated by Ashley's personal mantra, "you can do hard things," and her infectious belief in overcoming obstacles with grace and grit.
This episode is more than just a conversation; it's a treasure trove of life lessons and practical strategies for anyone trying to find harmony in the chaos of work and family life. So, grab your headphones, and let's dive in. Trust me, you'll come away with a fresh perspective and maybe even a new mantra for those tough days.
Bonus tools and takeaways
As a community member, I ask each of our guests to share with us some tangible tools, tips, links and personal stories as little extras for you.
What is your professional superpower and how has it shown up in your personal and family life?
I’ve been told that one of my superpowers at work is the fact that I can hold discomfort, mess, or challenges without judging it, and while I just work through it and bring a team through it.
Professionally, that has meant that nothing is unachievable, and that the answer is rarely that I / the team can’t do something. Rather, it’s a challenge and adventure to figure out how. I think not labeling things is healthy. I know we’re told to label our feelings, and that’s OK. But those labels should exist for us, not work to close our minds. At home, this also means that we can do hard things.
What are you cooking these days?
I love Gobble for the ease and diversity, and I supplement with Hungry Root for simpler things to whip up for the kids and when I’m in a hurry.
What are you reading?
I just finished reading Applied Empathy by Michael Ventura.
What are you listening to?
I re-listened to The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, and I’m looking for a more personal, connected podcast, if you have any recommendations.
What are you wearing - mom uniform, for work, for weekends?
I’m loving that Adidas Sambas are back! Wearing those A LOT. And I’m not completely embarrassed to be incorporating a lot of Cozy Earth basics into my wardrobe. It’s so dang comfortable!
What are the products, services or rituals you can’t live without in your daily routine?
Omg how much time do you have? I don’t love makeup - just not that type of girl. But Il Makiage foundation followed me around until I bought it. And it’s legit. That, and Olive & June nail polish help me look like I have my act together.
Services: I finally decided to see a specialist to get my hormones and food sensitivities tested, and realized that feeling like crap and exhausted all the time isn’t just normal mom life. The results have really made a difference.
Apps: Like I said, I’m all about energy management and making sure I’m at my best, so I started using Timeshifter to guide me through time zone jumps with all my international travel, and it is so interesting and useful!
Favorite accounts to follow?
Lauren Weinberg (CMO of Peloton), Diya Jolly (my peer at Xero, CPO), and my current boss, Sukhinder Singh Cassidy are all incredible women. I am so lucky to learn from them on a personal and professional level.
Where are you traveling?
Where am I NOT traveling? I wanted to spend more time with my team in Australia, so my husband and I moved the whole family there for 6 weeks. It went from a “no way” idea, to “so how would we” to “ok let’s do it.” So glad we did.
Ready to listen to Ashley’s episode?
Now, how about you share this incredible episode with your mom tribe? Seriously, it's as easy as dropping a link in your group chat.
Prioritizing Happiness: How Xero’s CRO Made Difficult Career Decisions to Put Herself First