Career Warrior Podcast #391) Lessons from 250,000 Trained Leaders | Ashley Herd, Former McKinsey Head of HR
Feb 9, 2026
Ashley Herd, former Head of HR North America at McKinsey and author of The Manager Method, has trained over 250,000 managers and speaks nationally on leadership. She discusses common manager struggles and why experience alone is not enough. She introduces the career quilt idea and the Pause–Consider–Act framework. She also covers why time off matters, how to balance accountability without micromanaging, and ways AI can boost human connection.
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Managerial Challenges Are Evergreen
- Many managerial challenges are timeless: giving feedback, balancing priorities, and managing people relationships.
- New variables like AI and world events add complexity but don't change core people problems.
Train To Become A Manager
- Don’t assume on-the-job experience alone makes you a good manager; learn explicit tools and frameworks.
- Seek training and scripts to convert individual contributor skill into coaching and people leadership.
Build Your Career Quilt
- Build your "career quilt" by listing varied jobs and what each taught you about people and work.
- Use those squares to explain perspective, show humility, and shape your leadership voice.
