Who Are You Without Your Job?

✅ When we meet someone new, we often ask one question first: "What do you do?" But what happens when the answer disappears? In this episode of Rupture, Wendy Lurrie sits down with organizational psychologist and cultural behaviorist Dr. Lauran Star to explore what happens when layoffs, termination, burnout, or career changes force us to confront who we are beyond our titles. Drawing from her experiences on both sides of the desk, as someone who has been fired and laid off, and as a Chief People Officer responsible for helping others through layoffs, Dr. Star shares why job loss feels so deeply personal, how our identities become entangled with our work, and what systems fail us when our careers are suddenly interrupted. Together, they discuss: ✅ Why layoffs feel like grief ✅ The hidden trauma of workplace loss ✅ Why "just bounce back" is harmful advice ✅ How different generations experience work and identity ✅ The mental health impacts of job loss ✅ What organizations get wrong about layoffs ✅ Why severance should be standard practice ✅ Learning who you are when the role disappears Because you are more than your productivity. If you've ever asked yourself, "Who am I now?" this conversation is for you. #Rupture #Layoffs #MentalHealth #CareerChange #Identity #JobLoss #Burnout #WorkplaceCulture #WomensLeadership #BestGuessistan #LauranStar #WendyLurrie