629: Ashley Herd, Former Head of HR North America at McKinsey, on What Effective Managers Actually Do - The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving Recap

Podcast: The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving

Published: 2026-02-18

Duration: 57 min

Summary

In this episode, Ashley Herd shares her insights on effective management, emphasizing the importance of building genuine relationships and understanding the common human fears that all employees face. She reflects on her experiences across various roles and how they shaped her approach to leadership.

What Happened

Ashley Herd, the former head of HR North America at McKinsey, discusses her extensive experience training over 250,000 managers. She emphasizes that regardless of the professional background of individuals, they often share similar human fears and challenges. This insight is grounded in her journey from working in a law firm focused on billing hours to building relationships in-house, which she describes as a 'breath of fresh air.' She highlights how effective management requires understanding these commonalities among team members, irrespective of their roles or status.

Throughout her career, Ashley has transitioned from legal and HR roles to significant positions in various organizations, including Yum Brands. She notes that the culture in different workplaces can greatly impact management styles. For instance, her experience at Yum Brands involved navigating a high number of meetings, which taught her the importance of strategic decision-making and consensus-building. Ashley's reflections reveal that while roles may change, the core challenges of managing teams and fostering a supportive environment remain the same.

Key Insights

Key Questions Answered

What are the key traits of effective managers according to Ashley Herd?

Ashley emphasizes that effective managers need to focus on building genuine relationships with their teams. She believes that regardless of where individuals are in their careers, they share common fears and challenges. This understanding allows managers to connect with their teams on a human level, fostering a supportive work environment.

How did Ashley's legal background influence her management style?

Ashley reflects on her time in the law firm environment, where the focus was predominantly on billing hours. This experience taught her the pressures that come with transactional relationships. In contrast, moving in-house allowed her to prioritize building relationships and providing advice without the constraints of billable hours, which she found liberating.

What cultural differences did Ashley observe at Yum Brands compared to her previous roles?

At Yum Brands, Ashley experienced a significant increase in the number of meetings compared to her previous roles. She describes having as many as 45 meetings in one week, which necessitated learning the art of strategic decision-making and understanding which meetings were essential for consensus-building.

What common themes did Ashley identify in her interactions with managers across different industries?

Ashley noted that regardless of the industry or the level of the individuals she's worked with, many face similar challenges in managing teams. Common themes included the stress of managing performance without micromanaging, and the fear of how team mistakes might reflect on the manager. These insights have helped her ground her training in practical advice.

How can managers avoid burnout while leading their teams effectively?

Ashley discusses the importance of finding balance in management. She highlights that success involves not only guiding teams but also ensuring that managers do not burn out themselves. By understanding the shared human experiences and fears within their teams, managers can create a more sustainable and effective work environment.