Lessons from a Layoff: Finding Success After Failure

PART 2 | This wasn’t a career PIVOT. It was SURVIVAL. After my THIRD tech layoff, my nervous system was destroyed…..and I stopped asking myself what my next title should be. I started asking what would keep a ROOF over our heads. As a single mom, I didn’t have the luxury of waiting 7 months for the “perfect” opportunity again. I needed income, stability, and a way to keep moving forward. So I stepped into an industry I knew almost nothing about. Looking back, I realize something important: Resilience rarely looks impressive while you’re living it. From the outside, people see a résumé that jumps from enterprise software sales to nightlife. They assume it’s a step backward! What they don’t see are the hundreds of applications, interviews, uncertainty, and difficult decisions that happen between those two lines on a résumé. The greatest lesson wasn’t about changing industries. It was learning that your job title is NEVER your identity. Part 3 is about the biggest surprise of all: the professionalism I found in the last place I expected. If you’ve ever had to rebuild your career after a layoff, I’d love to hear what helped you keep going. #CareerResilience #CareerTransition #TechSales #Leadership #WomenInBusiness #AI #OpenToWork

Layoffs are difficult. But they also remind us of an important career reality. Every time layoffs make headlines, the conversation often turns to loyalty. "I gave this company 10, 15, or even 20 years." As professionals, it's natural to feel disappointed. Losing a job is never easy. But I've come to see loyalty differently. A company exists to serve its customers and shareholders. It makes business decisions based on market conditions, strategy, and financial priorities—not emotions. That's the reality of the corporate world. For me, loyalty doesn't mean staying with the same employer forever. It means being fully committed to the work you've taken responsibility for. ·        Deliver your best. ·        Support your team. ·        Leave the project in a better state than you found it. ·        Honor your commitments. And once you've delivered, continue learning, expanding your skills, and exploring new opportunities. Staying with one company for many years isn't necessarily wrong. For some, it offers great growth, leadership opportunities, and career progression. But if you've stopped learning, stopped challenging yourself, or stayed simply because it's comfortable, it may be time to reflect. A career should be built on continuous learning, adaptability, and growth—not just tenure. Each new role brings: ·        New challenges ·        New perspectives ·        New technologies ·        New networks ·        Often, better financial growth My takeaway is simple: Be loyal to your work, your values, and your professional growth—not to the assumption that any company can guarantee lifelong security. What are your thoughts? Has your definition of career loyalty changed over the years? #CareerGrowth #Leadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #ContinuousLearning #CareerDevelopment #FutureOfWork #Employability #GrowthMindset #EngineeringLeadership #TechCareers #CareerAdvice #WorkplaceInsights #LearningAndDevelopment #Adaptability #LeadershipMatters

To Everyone Navigating Layoffs and Career Uncertainty Over the past several months, we’ve seen layoffs across industries and organizations. The reasons may vary - cost optimization, restructuring, AI transformation, shifting business priorities, or improving operational efficiency. Ultimately, every organization has a responsibility to create long-term value for its customers and shareholders. But behind every layoff is a person, a family, and a story. As a CEO and someone who has the privilege of interacting with leaders and professionals across our community, I want to acknowledge something that often goes unspoken: The uncertainty, disappointment, and anxiety you’re experiencing are real. Please don’t let this moment define your future. I’ve learned that some of the most meaningful career transformations begin during periods of uncertainty. While it may not feel like it today, this transition can become an opportunity to discover strengths, develop new skills, and pursue paths you may never have considered while staying within your comfort zone. If you’re going through this, here are a few thoughts that may help: • Stay calm and protect your health. Your mind makes better decisions when your body is healthy. • Exercise regularly. Even a 30-minute workout or walk each day can improve clarity, resilience, and confidence. • Spend 20 minutes in meditation or quiet reflection. A calm mind often sees opportunities that an anxious mind cannot. • Invest in yourself. Learn AI, cloud, cybersecurity, data, leadership, or whatever aligns with your future aspirations. The best investment during uncertainty is in your own capabilities. • Stay connected. Reach out to mentors, former colleagues, and your professional network. Many opportunities begin with a conversation. As leaders, we also have a responsibility to support one another during times like these. If you are navigating a transition and believe I can help—whether through an introduction, career guidance, brainstorming, or simply being a sounding board—please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly. I may not have every answer, but if I can help open a door, make a connection, or simply listen, I will gladly do so. Sometimes the next chapter begins with one conversation. Stay resilient. Keep learning. Keep believing in yourself. Your career is much bigger than one job. — Jagan Chitiprolu ⸻ #Leadership #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #AI #FutureOfWork #Resilience #Community #SeattleTech #TechnologyLeadership #Mentorship #CareerTransition #LeadershipMatters

One of the most dangerous things in the last 4 years I've been working in B2B SaaS has been joining startups with very wishy-washy commitments on role advancement and performance-based incentives. It's come primarily from a mix of imposter syndrome, factoring for scaling companies not having everything well laid out, and excitement from a new opportunity that got presented. I learned that this did more damage to my financial situation, my ability to have more confident performance reviews, and my career growth overall. I've learned so much to see through the BS that you buy into during an interview, and only see the true picture later. I've burned my hands in past roles with: - Zero comp adjustment for inflation. - Performance reviews that were implemented in the org 14 months after I joined them. These reviews ended up being performative in nature. No pun intended. - Seeing vibe-based promotions happen while I didn't have a concrete growth plan anywhere on the horizon. - A boss who was excellent at their function but horrible at being a manager, let alone a leader. Fun fact: the managerial part of that performance review was submitted 6 months after the deadline. The same deadline I adhered to for my side of the submission. PS. did I mention it was performative? But that's how startups work, I was told. And that's the submissive side of people who don't call out bullshit enough when needed. My recent layoff allowed me to introspect and learn to look at things from a different lens. Valuing my competencies better. Being more assertive when the time was ripe. Putting just enough trust in corporate arrangements that serve to be transactional, unless proven otherwise. You live and you learn.

The worst job market in years just produced the most new businesses in American history. Both things are true. That's not a contradiction. It's what a transition looks like. The numbers: 1.56 million new business applications filed from November through January. The biggest three-month stretch since records began in 2004. This year is running 25% ahead of last year. All during a layoff wave. Meanwhile, 59% of companies admit they emphasize AI when explaining layoffs because it sounds better than citing financial constraints. Only 9% say AI has actually replaced roles. "AI restructuring" reads better in a press release than "we missed our number." So the layoff narrative is partly cover. The formation surge is the honest signal. Here's what I think is happening: the cost of intelligence collapsed. What used to require a funded team (research, positioning, a website, content, operations) one person can now do at professional grade. I'm living it. I'm a marketer, and I ship production software. The opportunity splits two ways. If you have domain knowledge, your 25 years of experience just became more leverageable, not less. The expensive part was always execution. Execution got cheap. If you're entering the workforce, curiosity compounds faster than at any point in history. AI plus YouTube is a better education than most degrees, if you bring the energy. I read a piece this week about graduates who've stopped believing effort pays off. I understand why. But 1.56 million business applications say a few million people still believe they can shape their own future. They're probably right. Neil Anderson Ed Valdez Tri D. Luu Jodi McFarlane Malanowski

LAYOFFS KEEP TEACHING US THE SAME LESSON. MOST OF US JUST AREN'T LISTENING. Every time a company announces mass cuts, the reaction is the same. Shock, sympathy posts, hot takes about AI taking over. But if you actually study why certain roles get cut and others don't, a pattern shows up every single time. Here's what I've unlocked after watching this cycle repeat itself. Insight 1: EXECUTION ALONE IS REPLACEABLE. OWNERSHIP ISN'T. If your entire job can be described as "doing the task," you're competing with a machine that does it cheaper and faster. But if your job includes deciding what should be done, taking responsibility when it goes wrong, and being trusted to handle ambiguity, no algorithm can absorb that yet. Insight 2: PROXIMITY TO THE TECHNOLOGY MATTERS MORE THAN FEAR OF IT. The people least worried about AI right now aren't avoiding it. They're the ones building it, training it, correcting it, or directing it toward outcomes. Distance from the tool is what creates vulnerability, not the tool itself. Insight 3: JUDGMENT FORGED THROUGH REAL EXPERIENCE IS STILL UNMATCHED. Anywhere a decision depends on years of pattern recognition, lived experience physical presence, ethics, or reading a room, technology still hits a wall. This is why trades, healthcare, and high stakes advisory work keep surviving cut after cut. THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH Layoffs rarely happen because a company suddenly stopped valuing people. They happen when a company realizes a chunk of its workforce was doing things that no longer needed a human doing them. That's not a technology problem. That's a positioning problem. The real question every professional should be asking after reading yet another layoff headline isn't "will my job survive." It's "am I doing the part of this job that actually needed me, or the part that just needed to get done." What's the one insight this current wave of layoffs has unlocked for you? #Layoffs #CareerGrowth #FutureOfWork #JobSecurity #ProfessionalDevelopment

I never thought I’d still be worrying about job security after building the résumé I have. A decade ago, I thought career progression was pretty straightforward: Work hard. Do great work. Earn opportunities. Build a strong résumé. Eventually, companies start finding you. Instead, the last few years have taught me something completely different. I’ve had the privilege of working at Amazon, Meta, DoorDash, TikTok, and, most recently, an AI startup. I’ve supported executives through hypergrowth, ambiguity, reorganizations, and constant change. And yet… I’ve still experienced the uncertainty that so many professionals are feeling right now. It’s made me realize that career stability looks very different from what it did even five years ago. A recognizable résumé isn’t immunity from layoffs, reorganizations, hiring freezes, or a difficult market. I know I’m not the only one feeling that. The silver lining is that it’s also made it incredibly clear to me where I create the most value. I love stepping into complexity. Building structure where there isn’t any. Helping executives regain time. Creating clarity across teams. Turning “everything feels urgent” into a plan that people can actually execute. That’s the work I want to keep doing. So yes—I’m actively looking for my next opportunity in Chief of Staff, Executive Operations, Strategy & Operations, or Business Operations. But I also wanted to say this for anyone else navigating today’s market: If you’re questioning yourself because finding a great role has been harder than you expected, you’re not alone. The market is challenging. It doesn’t diminish the work you’ve done or the value you bring. If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear your experience. And if someone in your network is looking for an operator who thrives in high-growth, high-ambiguity environments, I’d be incredibly grateful if you kept me in mind. #ChiefOfStaff #ExecutiveOperations #Startups

One week into this job search, and there's a strange kind of comfort in something I wish weren't true: I've been here before. Layoffs and restructuring have shaped more of my career than I'd like to admit — none of it performance-related, all of it business decisions made well above my pay grade. And each time, I've had to relearn the same lesson: how you handle the in-between says as much about you as how you handle the role itself. A few things I keep coming back to: → The first week sets the tone. I'm not waiting for something to land in my inbox. I'm reaching out, getting organized, and building momentum early — because that makes the harder weeks easier later. → It's never personal, even when it feels personal. Restructuring happens in boardrooms, based on numbers. Separating that from your own sense of worth takes practice, but it's necessary. → Your network remembers you. Every time I've navigated this, it's been former colleagues, managers, and people I've supported along the way who've opened doors. That only works if you show up for people before you need them to show up for you. → Familiarity sharpens you. I know my story better than I used to. I know what I want next, and what to watch for before I commit to a role. That's not nothing. → Staying positive isn't pretending it's easy. It's choosing, on purpose, not to let uncertainty curdle into bitterness. That choice gets a little easier with practice — but it's still a choice, every day. If you're in the middle of your own search right now — whether this is new territory or familiar ground — you're not alone, and you're not behind. And if you're building a sales team and need someone who's grown occupancy, led through change, and knows how to turn a territory around — let's talk. #JobSearch #SalesLeadership #Resilience #Vancouver

Today I was reading a news story about a professional who, after spending more than a decade in the same organization, was laid off and eventually started working as a delivery partner to support his family. The story wasn't about one person it reflects the reality many professionals are facing today. One line from the story stayed with me: "Son, when we cook sabzi, curry leaves go in first... but when we eat it, the same leaves are removed first." That analogy perfectly captures the harsh side of today's job market. Loyalty, years of experience, and dedication are valuable but they are no longer enough to guarantee job security. Layoffs today are driven by business priorities, cost optimization, automation, AI, restructuring, and market conditions. Unfortunately, anyone can be affected. This is a reminder for all of us: Your job is not your identity. Keep learning, even when things are going well. Build skills that remain relevant. Grow your professional network before you need it. Create multiple sources of income whenever possible. Save and invest for the unexpected. Companies make business decisions. Professionals must make career decisions. Let's stop assuming, "It won't happen to me." Instead, let's prepare so that if it ever does, we're ready for our next chapter. Stay employable, not just employed. #Career #Layoffs #CareerGrowth #ContinuousLearning #Upskilling #SoftwareEngineering #Leadership #FutureOfWork

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗜-𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝘄𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵? I’m seeing so many people losing their jobs lately, and let's face it, a big part of that is due to the rapid rise of AI. It’s tough out there. When you're in the middle of a job hunt and trying to upgrade your skills to find the right direction, pressure builds up. Naturally, people start looking at odd jobs or taking paths that have absolutely nothing to do with their actual career aspirations. And you know what happens when you're going through a rough patch? Suddenly, a hundred different people appear, all trying to teach you what to do and telling you how to make a quick buck. But here’s the truth: When you listen to everyone else and pivot just because you’re chasing immediate cash, you’re subtly telling yourself that you don’t have faith in your own path. And if you don’t believe in your own journey, why should anyone else? You have to be the very first person to put faith in your own actions. The world will follow your lead—not the other way around. Keep believing in your path, stay focused on your true goals, and don't let temporary noise derail your long-term vision. #CareerGrowth #JobSearch #Mindset #Resilience #Leadership #TechLayoffs #deepakchaurasia #v2minds