After 19 Years, She Finally Counted the Real Cost

Cynthia spent 19 years building something real at Oracle. She joined when the team was just one and a half people, and helped grow it to over a hundred, including writers, editors, and developers spread across multiple countries and time zones. She was a senior director. She was trusted. She gave the job everything it asked for. And then, on March 31, it asked for one more thing. Her. Today, Cynthia shares what the layoff cost her beyond a paycheck: unvested stock gone overnight, healthcare coverage cut off the moment her final day ended, and the quiet realization that the job had taken far more from her life than she ever stopped to notice. She reflects on the warning signs she saw but couldn't act on, the gender dynamics she experienced as a senior leader, and why, in her observation, those who were let go may have actually been among the strongest performers. She's not bitter. But she's honest. What does she believe? That workers deserve more than a rushed severance and a midnight deadline on their health coverage. That loyalty should mean something. And those 19 years of your life deserve more than an email. *This podcast reflects the personal experiences and opinions of its guests. host: Erin Harris executive producer: Gillan Ritchie co-producer: Podcast Mechanic #humansbehindtheheadcount #hbth #tech #corporate #layoffs #realstories #oracle #cloud #severance