237 - Ashley Connell on Unlocking Hidden Ops Talent for Scalable Leadership

Ashley Connell, CEO of Prowess Project, joins Leaders and Legacies to unpack a bold truth: leaders don’t need another version of themselves. They need a “not you”—a skilled operator who thrives on structure, details, and execution.

In this episode, Ashley shares how she built a talent pipeline of highly qualified caregivers—primarily mothers and sandwich-generation women—who bring unmatched emotional intelligence and professional rigor to operations roles. These women aren’t looking for handouts; they’re looking for impact and flexibility. And they deliver, often increasing profits, improving team dynamics, and freeing CEOs to focus on growth.

Ashley and Craig explore how emotional intelligence should be compensated like hard skills, why leadership means letting go, and the power of empathy in business. Ashley also reveals how Prowess Project uses data—not gut instinct—to match CEOs with the right operators, transforming overwhelmed founders into confident leaders.

This is a must-listen for any business owner ready to lead with intention and build a legacy of empowered teams.

Want to learn more about Ashley Connell's work? Check out their website at https://www.prowessproject.com.

Connect with Ashley Connell on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-connell-ceo/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://podcast.allies4me.com/podcast-guest/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrew's work at allies4me? Check out his website at https://allies4me.com/.