The Blueprint for Thriving People and Teams: Belonging, Autonomy, and Purpose

All Episodes

July 17, 2025 • 67 mins

What does it look like to lead with grit, purpose, and a fierce sense of responsibility—across the battlefield, boardroom, and home?

On this week’s episode of The Grit Factor, I speak with Kiwi phenom Ellen Joan Ford—a former New Zealand Army officer, tech leader, mother, and fierce advocate for Work School Hours. Ellen’s story is one of extraordinary service, from deploying with the U.S. military to evacuating Afghan allies during the fall of Kabul, to now challenging the structural norms that leave working parents (especially mothers) behind.

We talk about:
• How military leadership forged her approach to high-stakes decision-making
• The incredible story behind her urgent efforts to help Afghan interpreters and their families escape- saving hundreds of lives
• Why the current 9-to-5 doesn’t work—and how her #WorkSchoolHours (https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/workschoolhours/) movement is gaining momentum
• What it means to rebuild your identity after leaving uniform—and how to lead with purpose in the civilian world

This is a conversation about service, reinvention, and building systems that reflect what actually matters.

🎧 Listen in—and let me know: What would change in your world if we really designed work to support families? And would you share, rate and review the podcast? It helps others find it!

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Fudd Around And Find Out

UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}The Blueprint for Thriving People and Teams: Belonging, Autonomy, and Purpose