One year layoff-aversary: on finding community, creativity and wellbeing again

One year ago next week along with 6K others, I was laid off by Microsoft. I am really proud of the work I did to help the company advance its understanding and capabilities in open source - I believe we were successful getting to the moment where our work became less of a speciality and instead - a central part of engineering workflows and culture. That really is the goal of any OSPO.

I am also really proud of the work I did as policy lead for GLEAM ERG; and amazing leadership team and community that I was able to contribute to making Microsoft a more inclusive and supportive place to work. I feel that I made a difference in ways that continue on without me now.

While it was devastating to lose the source of income that allowed me to take care of my family, it also felt like a kindness to be free of the persistent worry of being laid off that so grips our industry now. I, like many in the industry I am sure, found the looming threat of layoffs crushing; crushing to the point of panic and paralysis at times. In a way, being laid off allowed me to close the door on that intense worry; to feel a bit more in control, even if ironically-so.

That's not to say it's been easy, with the massive shift of AI-related everything, I found it challenging to imagine where my place now was. Unlike the last 15+ years, there was no clear opportunity to jump to - or clear pathway. I needed rest first though - taking nearly two months off, camping - gardening, being outside as much as possible - my children remarked on how happy and well I looked. I started (modestly) running and signed up for my first race. I spent time in my Teardrop trailer which I purchased the previous year (thank goodness!). In that first week, my two oldest daughters took care of their younger brother's school commute - so I could disappear on my own for a few days. I was touched by their compassion and kindness in that moment .