An honest, deeply human conversation with Sarah Bernstein, VP of Org Development at Lumen, on layoffs, leadership, resilience, and rewriting your career story!Layoffs aren’t just spreadsheets and severance. Behind every headcount decision is a conversation, a tension, a human story.In this powerful episode, we sit down with Sarah Bernstein, VP at Lumen Technologies and former HR exec at Airbnb, PayPal, and Microsoft, for an unfiltered look at:✅ What really happens behind closed doors during a layoff✅ How HR actually views candidates who've been laid off✅ How to reframe your story (even if it’s performance-related)✅ The 3 things great leaders do after a layoff to rebuild trust✅ How to build a resilient career without living in fearSarah is candid, compassionate, and clear: you can’t always avoid a layoff—but you can come out of it stronger, wiser, and more intentional.Whether you're navigating a career change or leading through uncertainty, this is a masterclass in human-centered leadership.

What if the person planning layoffs got laid off themselves?

Meet Mike Hennessy, a veteran IT leader who went from leading a global infrastructure team to packing up his desk after a surprise layoff. Over 155 days, Mike navigated grief, rejection, and reinvention. In this powerful episode, he walks us through:

✅ What it’s like to be on both sides of the layoff table

✅ How he stayed calm, focused, and even hopeful after the news hit

✅ The exact routines, mindsets, and community moves that helped him bounce back

✅ How one LinkedIn post changed everything

And how he landed a new leadership role—before he even applied.

💥 Whether you’ve been laid off, are leading a team through change, or just want real talk from a resilient leader, this episode delivers hard-won wisdom and hope.

🟡 Subscribe for more powerful stories and guidance for laid-off professionals

🔗 Join our free Skool community for tools, events, and peer support at www.skool.com/laidofflegends

📩 Want to connect with Mike? Drop your questions in the comments or inside the Skool community

“I did everything right, and still got laid off.” 😤

That line from author and marketing leader Steve Jaffe hit hard. Because it’s true for so many of us.In our latest Laid Off Legends podcast, Steve shares the raw, real story of being laid off four times, and how each experience shaped the roadmap he now shares with others. Through the powerful five stages of grief framework, Steve reframes the layoff journey from shame to strength. From silence to storytelling. From loss… to legacy.🎙 We talk about:

Why job loss hits our identity so hard

How self-compassion, daily routines, and gratitude shape recovery

What it means to exit with goodwill (even when it’s hard)Buddhist wisdom, depression stats, and navigating ambiguity

Why “the person who enters the layoff isn’t the same one who comes out”

This is such a timely topic and resource.

It's not just a list; its a survival guide for high performers navigating deep disruption, with a strong reminder that you’re not alone.

Resources:

Author Website - https://thestevejaffe.com/ - Download your free chapter here!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaffesteve/ - Let's Connect 🧠 Read Steve’s book: The Layoff Journey From Dismissal to Discovery: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXSDCQPY/ref=nosim?tag=laidofflegend-20

(we get a small commission with this link, so pls support Steve and the channel with your purchase!)

💬 Share your story or tag someone who needs to hear this.#LaidOffLegends #CareerResilience #SteveJaffe #MentalHealth #Layoffs #Leadership #CareerTransition