Laid Off to Lift Off

Deidre Dee Henry - The Spite That Built a Business in 45 Days

What happens when a sales and marketing powerhouse gets laid off on a Tuesday with zero warning despite celebrating record company profits just a week prior? Dee Henry, founder of The Sales Loft, turned that exact moment into a 45-day launch sprint that became her origin story as an entrepreneur. In this episode, Dee shares the raw, real story of her layoff, the spite that fueled her first business move, and the lesson that changed everything: done is better than perfect. From navigating the emotional whiplash of sudden unemployment to building systems that help other founders move with speed, Dee's journey proves that the skills that made you "good enough" for corporate make you unstoppable for yourself. Key Takeaways * "Done is better than perfect." The mantra that drove Dee from layoff to launch in 45 days. When she stopped agonizing over the perfect website or the perfect platform choice and just moved, the universe moved with her. * Your skill set isn't company property. If you were good enough to hire, you're good enough to bet on yourself. The talent that made you valuable to them is exactly what will make you successful for you. * The first month is about survival, not strategy. Expect overwhelm from notifications (Slack deactivation, insurance deadlines, concerned colleagues), and give yourself permission to sit in it rather than jump into your next move immediately. * Boundaries aren't optional for founders—they're a superpower. Dee built Boundaries (coming soon) because she learned the hard way that without them, people exploit your time, your energy, and your earning potential. This is especially critical for neurodivergent entrepreneurs and creators. * There's always room for you. The space isn't too crowded. CNBC found Dee because she was posting consistently. If you commit to showing up, the right people will find you. Connect with Dee: * LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/deidremhenry/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deidremhenry/] * Instagram: @deidreofficial * Tik Tok: @deidreofficial * The Sales Loft: https://thesalesloft.com/ [https://thesalesloft.com/]

Shantae Howell - They Said She Didn't Have Enough Experience. She Had 10 Years.

What happens when you see the layoff coming and still can't stop it? That's where this conversation starts. Shantae Howell is a creative director and brand storyteller who spent years building content from the ground up, eventually leading creative teams across the US, Canada, and Mexico. She's worked with major brands on everything from live events to full campaign builds and her work has always been rooted in one thing: making people feel genuinely seen. In this episode, Shantae opens up about her layoff, the brutal reality of the 2024 job market (even with referrals), and how she accidentally built a personal brand on LinkedIn that started opening doors for her; one relatable, personality-packed post at a time. If you're a creative professional navigating a pivot, questioning whether your resume is doing enough, or just trying to figure out your next move, this one is for you. What we cover: * The layoff she saw coming and the moment that still blindsided her * Why five referrals failed her, zero recruiter screens * The job search pivot from picky to practical * Why a Linktree is not a portfolio * LinkedIn, but make it human; her approach to showing up * The rejection that turned into viral content * Networking advice from someone who genuinely hates networking * The half-step nobody talks about between layoff and dream job Connect with Shantae - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shantaehowell/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shantaehowell/] Connect with Vanita - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/] * Subscribe to Laid Off to Lift Off * Comment * Rate * Share with someone who needs it. This one-woman show appreciates it!

Brittney Ball - Mom. Student. Founder. Job Seeker. Brittney Is All of It Right Now.

Brittney Ball - AI Documentation Strategist, Founder of TechniDox, and writer behind The Documentation Engineer on Substack. Brittney has 14 years of experience in tech, a self-taught background in software engineering and a track record working with some of the world's leading companies. But in 2025, she was laid off and instead of waiting for the job market to come back for her, she got honest about who she was without a title, what her finances looked like, and what it would actually take to rebuild on her own terms. In this episode, Brittney and I talk about the morning the email arrived (while her kids were headed to school), the survivor's guilt she had carried from previous rounds of layoffs and what it felt like when for the first time, she was the one let go from a job that had become a big part of her identity. Her first six-figure role. The applications weren't landing so Brittney did something different: she created a new identity entirely. She coined the term AI Documentation Strategist, launched TechniDox and built a Substack newsletter that grades AI companies on how transparent and inclusive their documentation actually is for everyday users, not just tech professionals. In this episode: * What it actually felt like the morning the layoff email came * Losing your first six-figure job and the identity that came with it * How Brittney rebranded her career around what was needed, not just what was trending * Why she invented her own job title and what an AI documentation strategist actually does * Her Substack journey: from writer since age 16 to published weekly newsletter * How she plans content a week ahead and stays consistent without burning out * The honest conversation around AI: what it can do, what it can't, and the safety side nobody talks about * Running a startup, going to school in the evenings, and being a present mom: the work-life balance reality * Her advice for anyone in a layoff or sensing one coming: prepare, stay visible, don't let it define you Connect with Brittney: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittney-ball/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittney-ball/] * Substack — The Documentation Engineer: https://briitoeknee.substack.com/ [https://briitoeknee.substack.com/] Connect with Vanita: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/] Subscribe to the podcast, share with a friend and rate on Spotify and Apple. #podcast #layoffs #laidoff #mindset #career #AI #personaldevelopment #startup

Heidi Kent-Mack - Don't Smile (But Maybe Do). Bee-lieving in What's Next

What do you do when you're being told you're laid off and you have to remind yourself not to smile? That's exactly where Heidi Kent-Mack found herself having to think about. As someone who worked in HR, Heidi had a feeling her layoff was coming. But nothing quite prepares you for the moment it actually happens and what surprised her most was how she felt: relieved, excited, and quietly hopeful about what was next. In this episode, Heidi shares her practical framework for navigating career transitions built around three powerful Rs: Recovery, Reflection, and Redesign. We talk about how she structured her days after the layoff, how she stayed mentally grounded and why she built a three-page master resume that became her secret weapon in the job search. We also get into her unexpected new chapter - beekeeping. Wait till you hear the Queens names. In this episode we cover: * How Heidi knew her layoff was coming and how she prepared mentally * The three things she did the day she got home * Why controlling what you can control is the key to staying sane * Her Recovery, Reflection, and Redesign framework * How to ask for things you think aren't available to you (free conferences, anyone?) * Bees. Just… bees. Connect with Heidi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-kent-mack/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-kent-mack/] Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vcapobiancohrtech/] Visit my Stan Store for my very own resume template, interview prep guides and layoff resources: https://stan.store/vanitacapo [https://stan.store/vanitacapo]

Anna Morgan - They Wouldn't Give Her The Mic. So She Built The Stage.

What do you do when the job you gave everything to lets you go? In this episode, Vanita sits down with Anna Morgan, talent acquisition veteran, speaker, and founder of the Evolve Conference to talk about her layoff during COVID, what she did differently to bounce back, and how she turned years of authentic relationship-building into a thriving community and business. Anna shares the real advice she wishes she'd had: documenting your wins, the art of the layoff announcement, why LinkedIn commenting is underrated, and why your next opportunity is one conversation away. If you've been laid off, are dreading one, or are just tired of hiding behind your resume, this episode is for you. Connect with Anna on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamorgan-recruiter-careerbff/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamorgan-recruiter-careerbff/] Learn more about CareerBFF and Evolve - https://yourcareerbff.com/ [https://yourcareerbff.com/] Grab my very own resume template, budget tracker, interview guides and more on my Stan Store - https://stan.store/vanitacapo [https://stan.store/vanitacapo]