This Wasn't My Plan

Ashlee Hayes
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This Wasn’t My Plan is the career podcast for high-achievers who’ve checked all the boxes (and done all the right things!) but still feel something’s missing. Hosted by Career Strategist and Performance Consultant and Advisor, RX Ashlee, it’s your no-BS roadmap to redefining success on your terms. Whether you’re pivoting, scaling your business, or ready for work that works for you, this show delivers sharp strategy, smart scripts, and real talk. No fluff, no filler, just focused guidance to help you lead, own your voice, and win with intention.

  1. Oct 21

    You're Getting Everything Done. But Is It What You Want?

    Episode 48: You're Getting Everything Done. But Is It What You Want? If there's anything I know about you, it's that you're REALLY good at taking care of business. You lead the team. You make the decisions. You solve the problems. You manage employees, clients, finances, and somehow still remember your daughter's dentist appointment. You're the person everyone counts on to figure things out. And I know you're going to get it all done. But here's what I want to ask you... Are you as good at taking care of your future YOU as you are at taking care of everything else? Because being busy, being needed, and getting everything done doesn't necessarily mean you're getting closer to what you actually want. In Episode 48 of This Wasn't My Plan, I'm talking about the art of simplification, why accomplished women become responsible for everyone else's problems, and how to start making decisions based on the future they actually want. I'm also sharing why I created The Clarity Lab, a private two-day experience for accomplished women in leadership. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why being great at solving problems can become your biggest limitationHow your calendar starts reflecting everyone else's prioritiesWhy just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you SHOULDThe difference between being busy and making progressWhy simplification can lead to better resultsHow clarity determines your direction and behavior determines your resultsWhy every decision comes with trade-offsHERE'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER Clarity determines your direction. Your BEHAVIOR determines your results. You can know exactly what you want, but if you keep making the same decisions, saying yes to the same things, and operating the same way, nothing changes. Sometimes the answer isn't adding more. It's removing what's getting in the way. THREE QUESTIONS FOR YOU What do YOU really want?What are you willing to do to get it?What are you NOT willing to do to get it?These questions help you define your priorities, commitments, and boundaries. THE CLARITY LAB January 28–29, 2027 | Orange County, California I'm bringing together 25 accomplished women who have spent years building successful careers, businesses, teams, and organizations. Women who are exceptional at taking care of business but are ready to spend two days focusing on themselves and what comes next. This isn't a traditional leadership conference. It's an intentionally small experience to get clear on what you want, decide what you're going to do about it, and identify the behaviors that will get you there. Applications are personally reviewed. Learn more and apply: https://www.rxashlee.com/claritylab MY QUESTION FOR YOU You're really good at taking care of business. But are you making time to take care of your future YOU? Is the success you're building actually the success you want? ABOUT ASHLEE Ashlee Klevens Hayes, PharmD, MHA, is an entrepreneur, leadership strategist, executive advisor, and host of This Wasn't My Plan. CONNECT WITH ASHLEE Website: https://www.rxashlee.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleeklevenshayes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rxashleehayes/ KEYWORDS Clarity Lab, women in leadership, behavior change, decision-making, simplification, personal growth, executive leadership, women entrepreneurs

  2. Oct 14

    Confidence Isn't What You're Missing

    Episode 47: Confidence Isn't What You're Missing I want to talk about two words I hear women in leadership use interchangeably ALL THE TIME. Confidence and self-trust. Because they're not the same thing. And I think understanding the difference can completely change how you make decisions, navigate uncertainty, and lead your life. Confidence is believing you can do something. Self-trust is believing that even when you don't know exactly how something will turn out, you can handle whatever happens next. Here's the problem I see with so many accomplished, high-achieving women. We're used to being good at what we do. We're used to having the answers, solving the problems, and knowing how to move forward. But what happens when we're faced with something we've NEVER done before? We start questioning ourselves. Am I qualified? Am I ready? What if I make the wrong decision? What if this doesn't work out? And suddenly, we're waiting for confidence before we're willing to take action. But confidence often comes AFTER action, not before it. In this solo episode of This Wasn't My Plan, I'm breaking down the difference between clarity, confidence, and self-trust, and why confusing these three things can keep you stuck in a life or career that no longer reflects what you actually want. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN - The difference between confidence and self-trust - Why uncertainty doesn't mean you're incapable - How clarity helps you make decisions without letting fear make them for you - Why waiting to feel ready can keep you stuck - How a lack of self-trust creates decision-making bottlenecks in leadership - Why following through on small commitments builds self-trust - How to move forward without knowing exactly how everything will turn out HERE'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER Clarity is knowing what you want, why it matters, and what you're willing or unwilling to do to get it. Confidence is believing you have the ability to do something. Self-trust is believing you can navigate whatever happens along the way. You can be clear about what you want and still be scared to pursue it. That doesn't mean you're making the wrong decision. And it doesn't mean you need to wait until you're more confident. MY QUESTION FOR YOU What decision are you delaying because you don't feel ready or confident enough? And if you trusted yourself to handle whatever happened next, what would you do differently? Confidence says, "I've got this." Self-trust says, "And if I don't, I'll figure it out anyway." I'll take self-trust over confidence any day of the week. ABOUT ASHLEE Ashlee Klevens Hayes, PharmD, MHA, is a leadership strategist, executive advisor, entrepreneur, and host of This Wasn't My Plan. She helps experienced women leaders communicate with clarity, make confident decisions, and lead with intention. CONNECT WITH ASHLEE Website: https://www.rxashlee.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleeklevenshayes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rxashleehayes/ THE CLARITY LAB January 28–29, 2027 | Orange County, California A private, two-day leadership retreat for accomplished women who are ready to get clear on what they want and decide what they're going to do about it. https://www.rxashlee.com/thelab KEYWORDS Confidence vs self-trust, building self-trust, leadership clarity, decision-making, women in leadership, overcoming self-doubt, personal growth, executive leadership, confidence, leadership development

  3. Oct 12

    Hema Dey: Being Great at What You Do Isn't Enough Anymore

    Guest Episode 13: Hema Dey: Being Great at What You Do Isn't Enough Anymore What happens when you've spent decades building your expertise, but the way people discover and evaluate businesses changes almost overnight? In this episode of This Wasn't My Plan, I sit down with Hema Dey, founder and CEO of Iffel International, to talk about leadership, entrepreneurship, and how AI is changing the way businesses and professionals get discovered. Hema spent years building a successful international corporate career, working across 35 countries. Her goal was to become CEO of a technology company. But when she decided she wanted to become a mother, her plans changed. She left corporate life, started her own business in New Zealand in 2006, and later moved to the United States, where she had to rebuild her professional reputation and relationships. Today, Hema is helping business owners understand how AI is changing marketing, visibility, and credibility. And here's what I found so interesting about our conversation... You can be REALLY good at what you do, but if people can't find you, understand your expertise, or trust your credibility, you're missing opportunities. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why Hema walked away from her original corporate career plansWhat it takes to rebuild your business and reputation in a new countryWhy being great at what you do isn't enough anymoreHow AI is changing the way people discover and evaluate businessesHema's Four Vs: Visibility, Validation, Values, and VeracityWhy women in leadership need to understand and adapt to AIWe also talk about the importance of intentional networking, learning new skills, and creating more opportunities for women in business. KEY MOMENTS 01:36 — Hema's original career ambitions 03:07 — How motherhood changed her plans 04:00 — Leaving corporate life to start a business 09:28 — Rebuilding her career in the United States 14:56 — How generative AI is changing business 16:33 — Will AI recommend you? 18:20 — Hema's Four Vs framework 25:30 — SEO, AEO, and GEO explained 30:11 — Intentional networking 31:52 — The AI Translator Academy 36:27 — Creating more equitable opportunities MY QUESTION FOR YOU If someone needed your expertise today, how easily could they find you? And what are you doing to make sure your experience, credibility, and work are visible to the people who need them? MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The AI Translator — Hema Dey https://www.iffelinternational.com/the-ai-translator/ CONNECT W/ HEMA Website: https://iffelinternational.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hemadey/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iffelinternational/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therealaitranslator ABOUT ASHLEE Ashlee Klevens Hayes, PharmD, MHA, is a leadership strategist, executive advisor, entrepreneur, and host of This Wasn't My Plan. She helps experienced women leaders communicate with clarity, make confident decisions, and lead with intention. CONNECT W/ ASHLEE Website: https://www.rxashlee.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleeklevenshayes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rxashleehayes/ KEYWORDS Hema Dey, The AI Translator, AI marketing, women in leadership, artificial intelligence

  4. Oct 8

    I Went for a Race. I Came Home With Clarity.

    Episode 46: I Went for a Race. I Came Home With Clarity. What happens when you step outside your routine, challenge yourself physically, and spend an entire weekend with people you love? For Ashlee, it meant coming home with more clarity than she expected. In this solo episode of *This Wasn't My Plan*, Ashlee shares five lessons from completing her first Ragnar Bourbon Chase relay in Kentucky. Twelve teammates, more than 200 miles, pouring rain, rolling hills, middle-of-the-night runs, and very little sleep created an unforgettable experience. She went hoping to build confidence for her upcoming marathon. She came home with a clearer understanding of who she wants beside her, what she's capable of, and what she wants to make more room for in her life. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN - Why the people you choose to do hard things with matter - How confidence grows when you give yourself evidence that you can follow through - Why discomfort isn't always a negative sign - How comparison can distract you from your own progress - Why stepping outside your routine can create clarity about what matters most This episode goes beyond running. It's about self-trust, relationships, consistency, discomfort, and making intentional choices about the life you want to live. KEY MOMENTS - Why Ashlee signed up for her first Ragnar relay - The experience of running more than 200 miles as a team - Lesson 1: Be intentional about who you do hard things with - Lesson 2: Confidence comes from evidence - Lesson 3: Discomfort isn't always a negative sign - Lesson 4: Stop comparing yourself to people running a different race - Lesson 5: Getting outside your comfort zone creates clarity - The question Ashlee wants you to ask yourself this week CALL TO ACTION Think about these questions: Who do I want beside me? What do I want more of in my life? What's one decision I can make this week that reflects that? Don't wait until you feel completely ready. Choose something meaningful, take the next step, and give yourself the opportunity to discover what you're capable of. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The Clarity Lab — January 2027, Orange County, CA An intentionally small leadership experience for 25 accomplished women ready to create clarity, connection, and a plan for the year ahead. Learn more: https://www.rxashlee.com/thelab Ragnar Relay Series Learn more about Ragnar relay races, including the Bourbon Chase experience. https://runragnar.com/ ABOUT ASHLEE Ashlee Klevens Hayes, PharmD, MHA, is a leadership strategist, executive advisor, and host of *This Wasn't My Plan*. She helps experienced women leaders strengthen their communication, decision-making, self-awareness, and ability to lead with clarity. Connect with Ashlee LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleeklevenshayes/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rxashleehayes/ Website: https://www.rxashlee.com/ KEYWORDS Ragnar Bourbon Chase, Ragnar Relay, leadership, self-trust, confidence, personal growth, doing hard things, life leadership, marathon training, clarity, women in leadership, stepping outside your comfort zone

  5. Oct 5

    Leah Rosser: Translating Your Ideas into Execution

    Episode 12: Leah Rosser: Translating Your Ideas into Execution Ashlee sits down with Leah Rosser, founder of Out of the Box Ops, to explore her unexpected path from classroom teacher to fractional COO and why growing businesses often have a clarity, ownership, and execution problem. After eight years in teaching, an opportunity from her sister led Leah into operations and HR. Today, she helps service-based founders build businesses that can grow without making the founder the bottleneck for every decision. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN How Leah shifted from aspiring superintendent and Secretary of Education to business operationsWhy another tool won't solve ownership or communication problemsThe difference between task management and strategic operationsWhy a CEO's “911” can feel like a “411” to the teamHow operators translate a founder's vision into clear executionLeah's teaching experience helped her learn to communicate expectations, create repeatable systems, and support different people within a shared structure. Those skills now guide her work with founders and teams. This conversation explores why systems work best when people understand what they own, what success looks like, and how their work supports the bigger vision. KEY MOMENTS (00:44) Leah's original career plan in education(01:42) How motherhood changed her view of time and energy(02:05) Moving from teaching into operations and HR(03:06) Leaving the classroom midyear(05:57) What a fractional COO does(07:08) Why more software doesn't mean better systems(11:16) Using calendar data to understand capacity(12:52) Starting client relationships with an operational audit(16:19) Why Ashlee hired Leah(20:04) Administrative versus strategic operational support(22:09) Why “fix my team” may require examining the leader(24:30) “Your 911 is their 411”(27:40) Creating connection on remote teams(35:03) Balancing multiple clients, three children, and boundaries(36:54) Turning emotional urgency into actionable information(40:50) Translating a founder's vision(41:54) Determining what's actually feasible(44:39) Teachers' transferable business skillsCALL TO ACTION Think about the last big idea, priority, or urgent request you gave your team. Did they understand why it mattered, who owned it, and when it needed to happen? Did they have the capacity to execute it? A vision becomes valuable when the people carrying it forward know how to execute it. ABOUT LEAH Leah Rosser founded Out of the Box Ops, a fractional COO firm supporting service-based small business owners. She spent eight years teaching, earned her Master's in Curriculum and Instruction, and served four years as Director of Operations and HR for a growing communications agency. Today, her team helps founders build operational infrastructure through role clarity, hiring, project management systems, SOPs, delegation, calendar management, and capacity planning. Connect with Leah Website: www.outoftheboxops.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/out-of-the-box-opsInstagram: instagram.com/outoftheboxops/ABOUT ASHLEE Ashlee Klevens Hayes is a leadership strategist, executive advisor, and workshop facilitator helping experienced women and leadership teams communicate, make decisions, and lead under pressure. Connect with Ashlee LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashleeklevenshayesInstagram: instagram.com/rxashleehayesWebsite: rxashlee.comKEYWORDS Leah Rosser, Out of the Box Ops, fractional COO, operations, business systems, leadership, CEO, founder

  6. Sep 30

    Your Behavior Under Pressure Is Your Leadership Brand

    Episode 45: Your Behavior Under Pressure Is Your Leadership Brand Who are you when the pressure rises? It's easy to describe yourself as collaborative, supportive, calm, empowering, or a strong communicator when everything is going according to plan. But your leadership reputation is built in the moments when someone pushes back, an employee makes a mistake, you receive difficult feedback, the numbers aren't where you expected, or the plan completely falls apart. In this episode, Ashlee explores why pressure reveals our leadership patterns and how becoming more aware of your response can change the way people experience you as a leader. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why pressure reveals leadership patterns that may otherwise stay hiddenHow your response to disagreement teaches your team whether it's safe to challenge youWhy emotional regulation doesn't mean eliminating your emotionsHow to move from Trigger → Reaction to Trigger → Awareness → Choice → ResponseHow small interactions shape your leadership reputationThe goal isn't to stop feeling frustrated, stressed, annoyed, or overwhelmed. It's to recognize what is happening before you lead from it. That small space between the trigger and your response gives you a choice. Sometimes leadership discipline means saying nothing. Sometimes it means saying, “Let me take a second to think about this.” Sometimes it means not sending the text, email, or Slack message while you're activated. Those small decisions become part of what people repeatedly experience from you — and ultimately, part of your leadership brand. KEY MOMENTS (00:00) Why leadership under pressure matters(01:15) Who am I when the pressure rises?(01:45) How pressure reveals your patterns(03:00) What your response to disagreement teaches your team(04:15) Emotional regulation vs. eliminating emotion(05:00) Trigger → Awareness → Choice → Response(05:45) Why sometimes the best response is no immediate response(06:30) How small interactions build your leadership reputation(08:30) What did my behavior create in the room?(09:15) You cannot change a pattern you refuse to acknowledge(09:45) Your behavior under pressure is your leadership brandCALL TO ACTION Think about the last time something didn't go according to plan. Then ask yourself: What did my behavior create in the room? More clarity or confusion? More calm or chaos? More trust or defensiveness? Don't beat yourself up over the answer. Become aware of the pattern so you can choose differently next time. ABOUT ASHLEE Ashlee Klevens Hayes is a leadership strategist, executive advisor, and workshop facilitator who helps experienced women and leadership teams strengthen how they communicate, make decisions, and lead under pressure. Connect with Ashlee LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleeklevenshayes/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rxashleehayes/Website: https://www.rxashlee.com/KEYWORDS leadership under pressure, leadership brand, self-awareness, emotional regulation, executive leadership, women in leadership, leadership communication, emotional intelligence, leadership discipline, team trust

  7. Sep 28

    Kalebe Easley: You Can't Expect What You Don't Model

    Guest Episode 11: Kalebe Easley: You Can't Expect What You Don't Model Ashlee sits down with Kalebe Easley, youth sports performance coach and founder of Prime Evolution Fitness and Sports Performance, to discuss the unexpected path from his dream of playing professional football to coaching young athletes. Academic struggles changed Kalebe’s football trajectory. After returning home, working multiple jobs, and facing another setback in college, he moved from Alabama to California with about $300 and everything he could fit in his car. Each turn challenged him to redefine success and keep moving. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN How Kalebe’s setbacks shaped the coach he is todayWhy trust and connection matter as much as physical trainingWhy young athletes need strong foundations before specializingWhat patience, honesty, relationships, and consistency have taught him about leadershipWhy coaches and leaders must model what they expect from othersAshlee and Kalebe also discuss mentorship, communication, discipline, and the responsibility of being someone others look up to. Today, Kalebe draws on his experiences with failure and starting over to help athletes grow beyond their physical performance. KEY MOMENTS (01:10) Was coaching always the plan?(04:46) Academic struggles change Kalebe’s football trajectory(06:27) Returning home without a clear next step(08:39) Rebuilding structure and momentum(11:04) Another attempt at college and another setback(13:48) Leaving coaching and feeling out of options(15:13) Deciding to move from Alabama to California(16:24) Arriving with about $300 and everything in his car(20:41) How his first athlete pushed him to start a business(24:25) Why individualized coaching goes beyond exercises(26:21) Building athletic foundations before specializing(38:08) Three things great coaching requires(42:30) Modeling what you expect from others(45:28) Ashlee challenges Kalebe to run a marathonCALL TO ACTION Think about the people you lead, coach, parent, or mentor. What are you asking of them, and are you modeling that standard yourself? Share this episode with someone helping develop the next generation. ABOUT KALEBE Kalebe Easley founded Prime Evolution Fitness and Sports Performance to help youth athletes build physical foundations, confidence, discipline, and mindset. A former high-level athlete, he brings his experiences with setbacks and rebuilding to an approach grounded in individualized training, trust, and developing the whole athlete. Connect with Kalebe Prime Evolution Fitness and Sports Performance: https://www.vagaro.com/primeevolutionfitnessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalebe-easley-215006205Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kalebeeasleypefsp/ABOUT ASHLEE Ashlee Klevens Hayes is a leadership strategist, executive advisor, and workshop facilitator. She helps experienced women and leadership teams strengthen communication, decision-making, trust, accountability, and performance under pressure. Connect with Ashlee LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleeklevenshayes/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rxashleehayes/Website: https://www.rxashlee.com/KEYWORDS Kalebe Easley, Prime Evolution Fitness, youth sports, athletic development, coaching, leadership, mentorship, personal development

  8. Sep 21

    Lisa Larter: Decisiveness is a Leadership Responsibility

    Guest Episode 10: Lisa Larter: Decisiveness is a Leadership Responsibility. In this episode, Ashlee sits down with business strategist and entrepreneur Lisa Larter to talk about the decisions, opportunities, and unexpected turns that shaped a career she could not have fully planned. From growing up without a clear picture of what was financially possible, to building businesses, becoming an author, and advising entrepreneurs on strategy, marketing, sales, and AI, Lisa shares what nearly two decades of business ownership have taught her. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN * Why you do not need a master plan to build an extraordinary career — but you do need to take action * Why indecision keeps leaders, teams, and businesses stuck * How Lisa uses the rocks, pebbles, and sand framework to prioritize the work that actually moves a business forward * How great leaders build confidence in other people through specific, meaningful feedback Lisa's career was not built from one perfectly executed plan. It grew through a series of decisions, experiments, opportunities, relationships, and course corrections. In this conversation, Lisa and Ashlee unpack what it means to trust yourself enough to make a decision before you know exactly how it will turn out — and why changing your mind does not mean the original decision was a failure. KEY MOMENTS * (04:44) Was this the plan? Lisa shares what she imagined for her life and career early on * (11:27) How a “shoulder tap” helped turn Lisa's knowledge into a consulting business * (16:38) Rocks, pebbles, and sand — and why most business owners focus on the wrong things first * (21:33) The connection between conviction, pricing, cash flow, and being unattached to the sale * (30:13) Why responsibility to her team drives Lisa as a business owner * (42:55) Why you should not surround yourself with people who are complacent * (54:29) Why sales and understanding your numbers are two critical business skills ABOUT LISA Lisa Larter is a business strategist, entrepreneur, author, and founder of the Lisa Larter Group and Go Daxxi Inc. After spending the first 16 years of her career in corporate retail and the wireless industry, Lisa became a business owner in 2006 and went on to build businesses focused on strategy, advisement, marketing, sales, and growth. Today, Lisa helps business owners strengthen their positioning, attract more clients, grow sales, and navigate the rapidly changing world of AI and marketing. Connect with Lisa * Website: lisalarter.com * Go Daxxi: godaxxi.com * LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisalarter * Instagram: instagram.com/lisalarter * TikTok: tiktok.com/lisalarter Connect with Ashlee * Follow Ashlee on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashleeklevenshayes * Follow Ashlee on Instagram: instagram.com/rxashleehayes * Learn more about Ashlee: rxashlee.com KEYWORDS Lisa Larter, business strategy, decision-making, women in leadership, entrepreneurship, business leadership, sales strategy, leadership communication, confidence, prioritization, business growth, self-trust

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4.8
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About

This Wasn’t My Plan is the career podcast for high-achievers who’ve checked all the boxes (and done all the right things!) but still feel something’s missing. Hosted by Career Strategist and Performance Consultant and Advisor, RX Ashlee, it’s your no-BS roadmap to redefining success on your terms. Whether you’re pivoting, scaling your business, or ready for work that works for you, this show delivers sharp strategy, smart scripts, and real talk. No fluff, no filler, just focused guidance to help you lead, own your voice, and win with intention.

Information

  • Creator
    Ashlee Hayes
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ashlee Hayes
  • Show Website
    This Wasn't My Plan