Choosing Joy in the Hard Seasons: How Ashley McCray-Ford Leads with Purpose and Grace

Published on Hirewell Talent Insights | The Balancing Act Podcast

When life hits hard, how do you show up as a parent, a partner, a leader?

In Episode 10 of The Balancing Act, host Sarah Sheridan welcomes Ashley McCray-Ford: Harvard MBA, startup founder, and the force behind CHOOZ, a platform helping women of color reclaim their power of choice.

But this conversation isn’t about titles. It’s about what happens when life derails your plan and invites you into something deeper.

From Consulting to Caregiving

Ashley was thriving in her career. Harvard Business School. Bain & Company. A newborn at home.

Then, her father was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Doctors gave him two weeks to live.

She paused her degree, went home to Chicago, and chose to be fully present, grieving in real time, caregiving alongside her family, and asking questions many never get to ask. That two-week prognosis turned into four unexpected years of love, planning, and legacy-building.

Motherhood and the Myth of Limitlessness

Returning to work post-maternity leave hit her like a freight train.

Ashley shares how therapy, boundaries, and a rock-solid support system helped her reorient. She learned to stop chasing perfection and start embracing sustainable ambition.

She didn’t need to do it all. She needed to do what mattered.

CHOOZ: A Business Born from Burnout

Ashley’s company, CHOOZ, exists because she nearly broke herself trying to live up to impossible expectations. CHOOZ helps high-achieving women realign their lives with what truly fulfills them, backed by research in positive psychology, happiness science, and real-world strategy.

Her advice? Build a team, set boundaries, give yourself gracen and stop assuming you have to do it alone.

The Power of Grace in Leadership

Whether she’s talking about grief or product roadmaps, Ashley leads with empathy. Her lived experience has made her a better boss, a more present parent, and a wiser woman.

This episode isn’t about having the answers. It’s about asking better questions, owning your limits, and designing a life you actually want to live.

Key Takeaways:

✔️ There’s strength in asking for help.
✔️ Therapy is productivity’s best kept secret.
✔️ Leadership rooted in empathy creates trust and performance.
✔️ Happiness starts with choice.
✔️ Grace is a power skill.

🎧 Tune into Episode 10 of The Balancing Act to hear the full conversation with Ashley McCray-Ford and discover what it means to lead with purpose- even when life doesn’t go to plan.

Listen now → https://talentinsights.hirewell.com/topics/the-balancing-act

Sarah Sheridan