Together We Rise: Navigating Layoffs

Layoffs are never easy. I’ve been through several—sometimes as the one impacted, and sometimes as the leader delivering the news.

Layoffs hit hard. One moment, you’re deep in your work, the next, you’re packing up and wondering, What now?

I know this feeling all too well. After years in the startup world, I’ve been on both sides—delivering the tough news as a senior leader and then receiving it myself.

One of the hardest moments of my career was at my last startup before joining Google. As the site lead, I had to lay off the entire team—talented, hardworking people who had given their all. Then, I got laid off too. It was overwhelming, disorienting, and filled with uncertainty.

But in that moment, I learned something invaluable. Instead of navigating the job hunt alone, we leaned into the power of us. We organized as a group, supported each other, and took action together.

Here’s what made the biggest difference:
✔ CV & Interview Workshops – We helped each other refine resumes and prep for interviews.
✔ Mock Interviews & Feedback – Practicing together built confidence and readiness.
✔ Study groups – We prepared for interviews together, shared insights and kept each other accountable.
✔ Referrals & Networking – We tapped into our collective networks to open doors.
✔ Emotional Support – Because let’s be real, this process is tough.

And one more thing—something that changed everything:

A board member gave us a piece of advice that took this to another level: we created a team CV and approached companies as a group. It wasn’t an acqui-hire, but it was the next best thing—a ready-made team, highly skilled, already used to working together.

The result? It created buzz in the local industry. Companies who weren’t even hiring reached out. More doors opened. More people landed roles. The impact was far greater than what we could have achieved individually.

If you’ve just been laid off, don’t go through it alone. Leverage the power of your group. Support each other. Get creative—think beyond the standard job hunt.
✔ Form study groups – Prepare for interviews together, share insights, and keep each other accountable.
✔ Help review resumes – Fresh eyes can make a big difference.
✔ Do mock interviews – Practicing in a safe space builds confidence.
✔ Connect each other to networks – Referrals can open doors faster than cold applications.

If you want to help someone impacted, consider this:
💡 Managers & Colleagues – Your word carries weight. A referral, a LinkedIn recommendation, or a simple check-in can make a world of difference.
💡 Offer mock interviews – Practicing in a safe space builds confidence.
💡 Review resumes & give feedback – A few small tweaks can significantly improve someone’s chances.

We can’t always control layoffs, but we can control how we show up for each other. And that makes all the difference.