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!

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