After four decades in tech, Annette Ash wasn’t ready to fully retire. Instead, she envisioned a next chapter where she could keep making an impact on her own terms.

When PDS reached out to her over a year ago, they didn’t just pitch another job; they took the time to understand what mattered to Annette at this stage. She no longer sought the relentless pace of full-time corporate work, but desired meaningful, flexible work that aligned with her values and helped others while allowing a gradual transition to retirement.

PDS found exactly that for Annette, opening the door to a new kind of impact-driven work that fit her life.

Today, Annette works with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She leads programs that are changing lives around the world. Her most recent accomplishment? Leading the expansion of BYU Pathway Worldwide into Brazil. It was a massive undertaking that brought affordable, spiritually based online degrees to people who might never have had access to higher education otherwise.

As Program Manager, Annette’s challenge was clear: align 12 teams, each with their own objectives, and launch BYU Pathway in Portuguese for Brazil in just seven months. This wasn’t just about translating or deploying technology, but about creating truly accessible, life-changing education.

With the program launching on schedule, its impact has been truly meaningful for many.
Now, as Project Manager for four church programs, Annette focuses on ensuring that people without internet or technology access aren’t left behind. She manages projects and makes sure the most underserved receive the resources they need, keeping impact central to her mission.

Throughout her 40-year career, Annette has developed a leadership philosophy that’s both simple and transformative: help people realize their own potential.

She’s worked with hundreds of development teams, always empowering them to self-organize, set goals, evaluate progress, and trust each other. The results: high-quality software delivered on time and within budget, and teams who genuinely enjoy their work together.

One story stands out in her memory. She was working with two mobile app teams that were struggling to deliver what the business needed. Instead of micromanaging or imposing rigid processes, Annette helped them find their own rhythm. She facilitated shared understanding, encouraged collaboration, and created an environment where they could thrive.

The transformation was remarkable. Those same two teams went on to participate in their company’s innovation week. There, 25 teams competed to present new ideas and working software to senior executives. Out of all those teams, the two Annette had coached finished first and second.

Their innovations became part of the company’s future and reached customers. More importantly to Annette, she watched teams unlock new potential when empowered and trusted, showing that real success is measured in people and progress, not just products.

Ask Annette about success, and you’ll get an answer that might surprise you: “Success is never achieved. If you think you have ‘arrived’ and you have learned and experienced all there is to learn and experience, then you have missed your greatest opportunities.”
It’s a philosophy she lives by. Even after 40 years, she actively seeks out mentors, reads self-improvement books (recommending Jefferson Fisher’s The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More), attends conferences as a presenter and participant, and looks for ways to give back while learning.

She’s also been on both sides of the mentorship equation, giving and receiving. She believes both are essential for finding new opportunities and growing beyond your comfort zone. One mentor once told her something that stuck: “Everyone has a blind spot. Those who are wise are willing to acknowledge and learn, then incrementally improve. It may take years, but the journey will be worth it.”

That wisdom reflects Annette’s own evolution. Early in her career, she experienced what she now recognizes as cognitive bias. She believed she was smarter and more capable than she actually was. Over time, she learned to embrace humility, to learn from others, and to help others do the same. It’s a journey that’s made her not just a better professional, but a more effective leader and mentor.

When asked what makes someone a good fit for PDS, Annette highlights flexibility, humility, and the ability to learn from mistakes. She says, “Be flexible, listen well, and remember no one has all the answers. Being humble and teachable lets you see opportunities others might miss.” This mindset has helped Annette find a role that fits where she is in life, meaningful work that makes a real difference, on her schedule, with an organization that values her goals.

For Annette Ash, retirement means choosing what matters most. With PDS, she continues to contribute and learn while adjusting the pace to fit her life and values after 40 years in the industry.

Her story shows that career transitions can be meaningful and purpose-driven, allowing you to keep doing work that matters to people who need you, in a way that fits your life.
And for Annette, that journey is far from over.