Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week I have the honor of welcoming Ashley Herd to the show. She is a former Chief People Officer and General Counsel who has trained over a quarter of a million managers through LinkedIn Learning and live corporate trainings. Ashley built Manager Method after leading HR in legal teams at McKinsey, Yum! Brands and Modern Luxury. She has a new book out called The Manager Method.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…new managers, experienced leaders, and anyone responsible for developing people who wants a more practical, human way to manage performance. If you've ever struggled with giving feedback, felt unsure how much autonomy to give your team, or questioned whether traditional performance reviews actually work, this episode will feel especially relevant.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…most managers aren't failing because they don't care, they're failing because they were never taught how to manage. In this episode, Ashley breaks down why so many well-intentioned leaders fall into patterns like avoiding feedback, overcorrecting, or defaulting to vague autonomy. She introduces a more structured, honest approach to management. We talk about why people actually want feedback, how AI is changing (and exposing) broken performance processes, and what managers can do differently to help their teams thrive.

KEY TAKEAWAYS…

• Most managers are promoted for performance rather than trained for leadership, creating gaps in expectations and feedback.

• Autonomy without structure often leaves employees feeling uncertain rather than empowered.

• Avoiding feedback is usually driven by good intentions, but it ultimately limits growth and trust.

• Consistent, direct feedback helps people feel respected, supported, and clear about where they stand.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…I loved Ashley's honest take on how good intentions often lead managers astray. Her insight that people don't need perfection but rather clarity reframes feedback as an act of respect, not criticism. It's a powerful reminder that strong management isn't about control or charisma, but about creating the conditions where people know where they stand and how to grow.

Running Time: 28:57

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Ashley's Book: The Manager Method: A Practical Framework to Lead, Support, and Get Results

Making Better Strategic Choices with Roger Martin

I'm thrilled to announce a new show with my dear friend, Roger Martin, author of the amazing book, Playing to Win. In this 12-part series, we'll explore the true meaning of strategy and how it's often misunderstood or misapplied in business today.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders and strategists who are tired of strategy being confused with planning and want a clearer, more practical way to think about how real strategic choices drive results.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…strategy isn't a list of priorities or a collection of initiatives—it's an integrated set of choices that work together to drive customer behavior. In this conversation, Roger Martin explains why so many organizations misunderstand strategy, how that misunderstanding shows up in day-to-day decision-making, and what it really takes to close the gap between what leaders hope will happen and what actually does. Drawing on decades of experience, Roger challenges conventional strategy thinking and lays the groundwork for a more disciplined, choice-driven approach to winning.

KEY TAKEAWAYS…

• Strategy only works when choices reinforce one another, not when they exist as disconnected initiatives.

• The hardest—and most important—part of strategy is influencing customer behavior, not internal activity.

• Many companies mistake planning exercises for strategy, which leads to disappointing results.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…I love how clearly Roger reframes strategy as a set of deliberate, reinforcing choices. It's a powerful reminder that winning isn't about doing more things, it's about making better, more integrated choices.

Running Time: 21:22

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Show Summary on Substack

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

This week I have the pleasure of welcoming from Australia, John Dwyer, also known as JD. He is a direct response customer attraction expert who thinks way outside the box. His marketing consultancy business is called the Institute of Wow and JD's mantra is that one's marketing needs to wow prospects. I'm sure you all understand exactly why I invited him to our show but dive into what you should be doing to grow and build a successful business in 2026.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…leaders, founders, and marketers who want to stand out in crowded markets and create real customer loyalty without relying on gimmicks or short-term tactics.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…most companies say they care about customers—but very few design their business around them. In this episode, we explore what actually separates brands people remember from those they forget. John challenges leaders to rethink how they show up for customers, arguing that sustainable success comes from intentional experiences, not louder marketing.

KEY TAKEAWAYS…

• How small, thoughtful actions can create disproportionate brand impact.

• The difference between being visible and being memorable.

• How leaders can embed customer-first thinking into everyday decisions.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…I loved John's reminder that meaningful differentiation doesn't come from copying what others are doing—it comes from truly understanding your customer and being willing to act on that insight. His perspective reinforces that growth isn't about chasing trends, but about committing to experiences that people actually care about.

Running Time: 30:47

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