From Layoff to Launch: What I’m Learning as I Leap

On March 31st, I closed my laptop after my final meeting and sat in silence.
No Teams pings.
No next quarter planning.
No goal-setting sessions.
Just the stillness of a new chapter… and a question I could no longer ignore:
Do I have the courage to do what I’ve been dreaming about?

For over a year, What If had been whispering to me—an idea, a vision, a quiet pull toward something of my own.
And now, with everything around me paused, the only thing left was to decide:
What If I actually do it?

This wasn’t my first layoff.

The first one happened early in my career, as I was soaking in every lesson and still finding my direction. That moment led me to the incredible opportunity to work at Bumble and bumble and Estée Lauder Companies—where my passion for learning and facilitation truly took root.

The next came when my son was a baby. I was in a completely different season of life.
Starting something on my own wasn’t even in my line of sight—I was focused on raising two little ones, growing a family, and still figuring out who I was in the professional world. I wasn’t ready then. And that’s okay.

But this time?
This one felt different.
Maybe it was the accumulation of experience. Or maybe it was the question that had been whispering for years:
What if this time, I bet on me?

Underneath the loss and uncertainty was a surprising emotion: relief.
A deep, unshakable knowing that I was ready.
That it was finally time to build something I had been dreaming about for years—something that reflected not just what I could do, but what I believed.

So I did.

I launched The What If Collective—a consulting practice grounded in one belief:

The best work happens when people feel connected, inspired, and truly seen.

I didn’t want to keep running workshops that end the moment the calendar invite disappears.
I wanted to create experiences that spark something lasting.

Because I’ve seen it over and over again:
Teams are drowning in slides.
Decks packed with words that never move us forward.
One-and-done sessions that check the box but change nothing.
People crave depth. Realness. Space to think, feel, and lead differently.

That’s what The What If Collective is here to create.

Now, I’m navigating the wild in-between—where possibility meets vulnerability.

Some days, I feel unstoppable.
Other days, I feel terrified. Vulnerable. Wondering, Can I really do this?
But every time I choose to show up—every time I accomplish something I didn’t know how to do before—
Build a website.
Set up an invoicing and accounting structure.
Create the framework of a business, for goodness’ sake—even if it’s a small one—
It reminds me:

This is why I leapt, and hoped the net would appear.

And the net? It’s appearing in beautiful ways.

People are reaching out saying, “I needed to hear this.”
Clients are referencing “What If” in conversations, strategy sessions, and team moments.
That simple question—What If? —is becoming a powerful invitation.
And even when it’s hard, these moments affirm: this path is the right one.

If you're standing in your own in-between—career, identity, life—
If you're holding your own What If, wondering if now is the time...
Know this: you don’t have to have it all figured out to take the leap.

Just take the next brave step—toward something more aligned, more authentic, and more you.

Because What If is more than a business.
It’s a mindset.
A way of seeing uncertainty as possibility.
A way of transcending titles and tapping into what really matters—growth, meaning, and connection.

And sometimes, one conversation can change everything.

What If this is your moment?
If you're a leader or team ready to grow, connect, and rethink what’s possible—I'd love to connect:🔗 www.thewhatifcollective.com