339: Cultures of Caring: Turning Grief into a Leadership Growth Opportunity with Ashley Jones

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 This conversation challenges outdated beliefs about productivity, exposes the real cost of emotional avoidance, and offers a new leadership standard rooted in love, trust, and psychological safety.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 more about PeopleForward Network Nikki's Key Takeaways: Grief has no timeline or linear stages. Empathy is leadership strength, not softness. Culture of caring must start before crisis. Unsupported grief drives turnover and disengagement. Love, not fear, builds workplace trust.