Listening to Your Inner Applause
A job title can feel like a home until it disappears. Kelly Kirk sits down with Ashlei Rolloff, founder of Nerd Herd, to talk about what happens when your identity is wrapped up in achievement, and how to rebuild confidence, clarity, and joy when life forces a pivot.
Ashlei shares her path from early marketing roots and self-taught design skills to becoming a corporate VP of marketing in a predominantly male HVAC industry, then stepping into full-time entrepreneurship. We dig into why niching down is a growth strategy, how specializing in B2B HVAC and the broader AEC space makes branding and lead generation sharper, and what “saying no” unlocks when you track what actually drives sales. We also get tactical about scaling with EOS Traction, peer groups as a true board of directors, time blocking for finance, and building an A-team of partners so you’re not carrying every function alone.
Motherhood brings the conversation to the heart: Ashlei opens up about infertility, IVF, mental health, and the courage it takes to choose a one-and-done family with peace. We talk about work-life integration for parents, the mental load, delegating at home (yes, even a house manager), and why healing work matters for leadership. Ashlei also shares how values, mindfulness, spirituality, and body-based tools like somatic experiencing can help you lead with more steadiness and less burnout.
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Thanks for listening & cheers to Reclaiming Your Hue!
