Join Flint Hills SHRM for our monthly chapter meeting and program.
Topic: Leading with Purpose
In a labor market defined by high turnover and disengagement, a growing body of research points to one underlying driver: a lack of purpose alignment at work. This session explores current workforce data on why employees leave, the true cost of turnover, and the organizational impact of disengagement.
Attendees will learn about the individual and organizational benefits of purpose, including improved well-being, higher life and job satisfaction, increased engagement, and reduced turnover intention. Using Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle framework, the session provides a practical introduction to identifying one’s WHY and examines how purpose-driven leadership functions as a compass for decision-making, values alignment, trust, psychological safety, and sustainable leadership.
The session connects research to practice, demonstrating how understanding and activating purpose can deliver meaningful benefits for both employees and organizations.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Describe the organizational impact of purpose alignment on engagement, well-being, and retention using current workforce research.
2. Apply the Golden Circle framework to clarify purpose and inform leadership and people practices.
3. Leverage WHY-focused leadership to support alignment, trust, and intentional decision-making.
Speaker: Dr. Ashley Thomas
Dr. Ashley Thomas is a leadership consultant and executive coach who works with both senior leaders and individuals to clarify purpose, strengthen leadership effectiveness, and drive meaningful, sustainable impact. Her work bridges organizational leadership and personal development, helping clients align who they are with how they lead and live.
She holds a Ph.D. focused on the transformative power of purpose in life and is one of only 50 people worldwide certified as a WHY Coach through Simon Sinek. In addition, Ashley is one of just 10 instructors globally for Simon Sinek’s WHY School, where she teaches and certifies individuals to become WHY Coaches.
Grounded in rigorous research and applied through practical, results-oriented frameworks, Ashley is known for creating high-trust, high-impact environments where executives and individuals gain clarity, sharpen decision-making, and translate insight into disciplined action. She partners with clients navigating complexity, growth, and transition, supporting life and leadership that is intentional, authentic, and effective.
