Ashley Herd, founder and CEO of Manager Method and co-host of HR Besties, joins Punk Rock HR to talk about what it actually takes to lead people well. A lawyer turned HR executive, Ashley shares how mentorship, recognition, and practical judgment shape better managers — and why “common sense” leadership isn’t common at all.

If you manage people, support managers in HR, or sit in the C-suite and want employees to function like humans instead of headcount, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why mentors can sit anywhere on the org chart — including below you

The hidden human cost of how and when we terminate employees

Why recognition isn’t “fluffy” — it’s fuel

How Ashley’s Pause–Consider–Act framework changes everyday decisions

What HR Besties gets right about nuance in the profession

Why managers must stop thinking about people as spreadsheets