#4 - Ashley Waddingham: Lessons Learned from Layoffs and Leadership

Ashley Waddington’s career path has been anything but linear—moving from bartending and managing a medical office to project management, HR, and ultimately staffing—before taking the leap to launch her own business. In this conversation, she shares the lessons learned along the way, including the tough realities of layoffs, the challenges of leading without training, and why she believes empathy and resilience are the through-lines in her professional journey. Now as the founder of Ponder This Consulting, Ashley is on a mission to equip middle managers with the tools they need to succeed. She explains why this often-overlooked group is critical to culture, retention, and ROI, and how organizations can better support them in a post-COVID world. From communication pitfalls to the pressures of remote and hybrid work, Ashley offers a candid look at the real issues managers face—and how intentional training can transform outcomes for both people and business. About Ashley Waddington: Ashley Waddington is the founder of Ponder This Consulting, a firm dedicated to training and upskilling middle management teams. Drawing from her background in staffing, HR leadership, and project management, Ashley brings a unique perspective on the human side of business. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between individual contributors and senior leadership, ensuring that managers have the skills, confidence, and support needed to thrive. Connect with Ashley: Website: ponderthisconsulting.com LinkedIn: Ashley Waddington Instagram: @ponderthisconsulting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices