About this episode

Nikki and Ashley discuss how to lead through grief in the workplace and the importance of empathy in modern leadership.

Grief doesn't clock out when we clock in. Nikki sits down with Ashley Jones, founder of Memento Foundation and grief and empathy consultant, to explore what happens when loss walks into the workplace. After navigating the unimaginable loss of her daughter, Ashley turned her pain into purpose, helping organizations lead through grief with courage, care, and emotional intelligence. Together, they unpack what most leaders get wrong about grief at work, why empathy is not optional in modern leadership, and how cultures of caring are built long before crisis hits. This conversation challenges outdated beliefs about productivity, exposes the real cost of emotional avoidance, and offers a new leadership standard rooted in love, trust, and psychological safety. 💛 If you want to retain top talent, strengthen trust, and lead whole humans instead of job titles, this episode will change the way you show up. Additional Resources: Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn Get Ashley's book: "When You Can't See the Light" Learn more about Momento Foundation Learn more about Bereave Watch Gut + Science (and more) on YouTube! Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn…

People in this episode

Host: Nikki Lewallen Gregory

Guest: Ashley Jones

Topics covered

• grief in the workplace
• leadership
• empathy
• organizational culture
• emotional intelligence
• employee retention

Keywords

• grief
• leadership growth
• empathy
• workplace culture
• emotional avoidance
• trust
• psychological safety
• employee engagement

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Memento Foundation, Bereave Watch, PeopleForward Network

Books & works: When You Can't See the Light

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