Brie Nicole Inked

Restructuring—a term that evokes fear in almost everyone I know—recently became a reality at my workplace. The news reached our leadership first, and within a day, a barrage of messages and sorrowful announcements followed. The scale was staggering: thousands across the company were suddenly let go. Many had devoted entire careers, poured in endless hours, and championed the organization’s mission through every triumph and trial. Among those called to depart were leaders who had genuinely inspired those on the front lines—individuals who had spent decades shaping the company’s culture. In the aftermath, those who remained lack that same spark of inspiration. They are not the trusted figures our teams depended on. Perhaps this is unique to my department, but the overarching atmosphere is one of heartbreak, frustration, and deep confusion.

Those at the helm often insist their decisions have no impact on the frontlines—that our positions remain secure. Yet, experience has taught me otherwise. If I have learned anything in my time here, it is that change is the only constant. Any ambition for advancement or deeper purpose within this company has faded. The rewards for loyalty and dedication are all too clear to me now. I’ve witnessed firsthand the underlying factors influencing leadership selections—choices driven not by merit, diligence, or team fit, but by favoritism and a lack of transparency in the interview process. Just a year ago, after serving as an interim leader and elevating a struggling team to top performance, I reached the final interview stage. Still, they chose to bring in someone from outside, someone unfamiliar with how we serve our customers. The disappointment and frustration I felt were profound, especially after having sacrificed personal time and missed significant incentives to support the team. Despite inner turmoil, I remained present and engaged, yet the outcome spoke volumes.

Though I now hold a sense of gratitude that the position was never offered to me, the impact of that decision lingers—its shadow unchanged by retrospective relief. What followed with the leaders who once championed me has eroded any sense of trust, leaving me wary. I find myself compelled to seek fulfillment and livelihood beyond the confines of the corporate sphere, unwilling to accept a life saturated by stress and perpetual uncertainty. In a world already burdened by hardship, the thought of one’s future being determined by those detached from our daily struggles feels intolerable. The atmosphere is rife with anger and ambiguity. For the moment, I retreat into quiet perseverance, watching events unfold. Yet, in my heart, a resolution grows ever stronger: to carve an escape from this industry that so often stifles the spirit and drains the soul.