Podcast
March 28, 2025
Episode 34: Structuring Goals & Thriving with Neurodivergence
Struggling to juggle 37 P1’s at once? Ashley Vonella breaks down goal-setting and how to thrive in RevOps - because realistic goals > meltdown mode.
In this episode, co-host Camela Thompson sits down with Ashley Vonella, Director of Revenue Operations at Velocity EHS. Ashley is not only a seasoned RevOps leader but also a passionate consultant and advocate for women navigating the corporate world.
Today’s discussion is all about goal-setting strategies that work for neurodivergent professionals, the pitfalls of unrealistic planning, and how RevOps professionals can better align their personal and business goals. Whether you’re neurodivergent or simply looking for better ways to structure your goals, this episode is packed with actionable insights.
Many people enter the new year with a long list of ambitious goals - only to hit a wall of burnout and frustration. Ashley shares her own experience of being diagnosed as autistic later in life and how it changed her perspective on planning.
"In January, I had 37 number-one priorities, and that’s really tough to deal with." — Ashley Vonella
For neurodivergent professionals, hyper-fixation on planning can lead to overwhelming workloads and unrealistic expectations. Instead of setting too many short-term goals, Ashley recommends looking beyond the first month and first quarter.
✅ Set bigger, long-term goals and then break them into quarterly and monthly priorities.
✅ Avoid hyper-fixation by limiting the number of immediate objectives.
✅ Prevent burnout by structuring priorities around sustainable execution.
For more on effective RevOps strategies, check out How Should Your Revenue Operations Organization Be Structured?
One of the biggest challenges in Revenue Operations is tying personal contributions to company-wide objectives. Too often, RevOps professionals focus on technical execution - like adding Salesforce fields - without connecting their work to business outcomes.
"Most people stop at ‘I need to build this field.’ But why? Maybe it’s actually about making the sales team more efficient so they can increase bookings." — Ashley Vonella
To ensure career growth and business impact, Ashley suggests starting with corporate objectives, identifying how your role contributes, and then working backward to define specific projects.
📌 Start with company-wide goals (e.g., ARR growth, bookings increase).
📌 Identify how RevOps contributes to those goals.
📌 Break it down into quarterly and monthly initiatives.
📌 Continuously revisit and adjust based on business changes.
For more insights, check out Thriving in RevOps as a Team of One.
One of the biggest reasons New Year’s resolutions fail is setting unrealistic expectations - like committing to the gym every single day. In RevOps, the equivalent is taking on too many projects and losing sight of the essentials.
Ashley recommends a ruthless prioritization method:
🔹 Cut your goal list in half—focus on the non-negotiables.
🔹 Identify which goals are "delighters" vs. business-critical.
🔹 Block calendar time for high-priority work to prevent distractions.
For additional strategies, listen to our podcast episode How to be a Strategic Revenue Operator.
In a fast-moving RevOps environment, conflicting priorities can create friction with stakeholders - whether it's a sales leader demanding a new report or a marketing team requesting additional fields in Salesforce.
Ashley emphasizes using a sales technique to navigate these conversations:
"Ask ‘how’ instead of ‘what.’ Instead of ‘What do you need?’ ask ‘How do you plan to use this?’ It helps uncover the real need and often leads to a better solution."
By shifting the conversation to problem-solving, RevOps professionals can collaborate more effectively and avoid becoming order-takers.
✔ Ask ‘how’ questions to uncover the real problem.
✔ Identify the true business impact before committing.
✔ Communicate trade-offs if priorities are conflicting.
✔ Leverage data and insights to drive decision-making.
For more on aligning RevOps with stakeholder needs, check out Want Career Growth in RevOps? Here's a Formula for Success.
Many professionals struggle to communicate their career aspirations—sometimes because they don’t know what they want, and other times because their manager isn’t supportive.
Ashley recommends being proactive about career conversations:
📌 Share your goals with your manager and leadership team.
📌 Find a trusted advisor—either inside or outside your company.
📌 Ask leaders for advice on how to gain relevant experience.
"Your manager should know your goals, but so should your boss’s boss. If leadership is aware, they can help open doors for you." — Ashley Vonella
For further career guidance, read RevOps as a Strategic Growth Lever.
Ashley leaves us with a powerful piece of advice:
"If you're in a job where you're not being supported, find a new team. Don’t waste time proving yourself to someone who doesn’t value you." — Ashley Vonella
Whether you’re looking to improve goal-setting, navigate RevOps challenges, or advocate for your career, this episode is full of actionable strategies to help you thrive in your role.
Our average member has more than 5 years of RevOps experience. That means you’ll have real-time access to seasoned professionals. All we ask is that you’re generous with your knowledge in return.
