How to Get Through a Tech Layoff Without Losing Yourself

If you work in tech long enough, there’s a good chance you’ll go through a layoff. Either your own, or one that leaves you wondering whether you’re next. Shanon Olsen, COO of Henley Leadership, works with executives and organizations navigating growth, disruption, and change. In this episode, we talk about why layoffs should be understood as a cultural breakdown rather than a one-day event, what happens when founders build companies they aren’t prepared to lead, and why CEOs can delegate just about everything — except culture. I’ve been on both sides of this equation, so I asked Shanon about how to stay committed to your work without making your employer your identity, why it’s important to maintain relationships outside your company, how to assess whether a workplace is recovering after layoffs, and why staying in a job and exploring other possibilities don’t have to be mutually exclusive. RUNTIME 48:52 EPISODE BREAKDOWN (2:05) When does a startup stop being a startup? (9:37) If you're not ready to let someone go, you shouldn't be the CEO (14:57) Why layoffs are a "cultural breakdown" (19:56) How should the CEO behave after layoffs? (23:50) Building a culture that's resilient enough to weather layoffs (26:58) How to tell an employee WHY you're laying them off (32:38) " Identify what's your purpose outside of your position." (39:13) How to tell if your company is recovering after layoffs (44:23) Should you stay or leave after layoffs? 📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vbunRx4FZIQ LINKS Shanon Olsen Henley Leadership Group Navigating Layoffs: Understanding the Impact on You and Your Team, Henley Leadership Group Who Do We Choose To Be, Margaret Wheatley Dunbar’s Number Johari Window Are you building something that’s hard to explain? That’s often a sign you’re working on something interesting, but it raises the risk that you’re missing out on fundraising, sales, hiring, and media opportunities. I help early-stage founders sharpen the narrative: what matters, why now, who needs to care, and why they’re the right team to make it happen. If you’re preparing for a raise, launch, important customer meeting, panel, or hiring push, I can help you pressure-test the story before the stakes get higher. Visit the Fund/Build/Scale website to learn more, or email fundbuildscale@gmaii.com 👉🏾 Learn more 📥 Get the Fund/Build/Scale newsletter on Beehiiv: https://fundbuildscale.beehiiv.com/ 📺 Watch Fund/Build/Scale on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFFH4cs2B1BKatPGs8SFRJw