From Work Ethic to Worth Ethic

What happens when everything you worked for… doesn’t feel like you anymore?In this episode, I’m joined by business strategist and founder of Hive Ambition, Ashley Sterken, for a deeply honest conversation about what it means to be a high-achieving woman whose worth has been tied to productivity, performance, and being “good.”We talk about the early roots of overachievement, the quiet ways external validation shapes identity, and the moment many women face—often in motherhood or midlife—when something no longer fits.Ashley shares her experience of stepping into a C-suite role, navigating postpartum and anxiety, and beginning the long process of untangling her identity from her work. We explore the shift from work ethic to worth ethic—a concept inspired by musician Toni Jones—the difference between ambition driven by validation versus joy, and how to start asking: Who am I doing this for?We also talk about community, friendship, and why so many women are craving spaces where they don’t have to do it all alone.If you’ve ever found yourself successful on paper but questioning what it’s all for, this conversation will meet you there.You can find our guest on Instagram at ashley_sterken and at hiveambition.