BONUS! Shocking AI Layoff Story... with a Lucky Twist

Through a personal encounter at her gym, Dr. Joan Palmiter Bajorek shares a shocking story of someone who has lived through an AI layoff the same day!!!

50% of Americans are experiencing layoff anxiety (HBR)

This person at the gym didn't have that anxiety ....

until today.

Reflections on the anxiety surrounding job security in the AI industry

People need to get a plan together to take care of their career and finances...

EVEN for people who work in AI (like Joan!)

Might be time to get a roadmap together?
The book is ready for you: Your AI Roadmap: Actions to Expand Your Career, Money, and Joy

Learn More

YouTube! Watch the episode live @YourAIRoadmap
Connect with Joan on LinkedIn

✨📘 Buy the Bestselling Wiley Book: Your AI Roadmap: Actions to Expand Your Career, Money, and Joy. Featured in Forbes!

Who is Joan?

Ranked the #4⁠⁠ in Voice AI Influencer, ⁠⁠Dr. Joan Palmiter Bajorek⁠⁠ is the CEO of ⁠⁠Clarity AI⁠⁠, Founder of ⁠⁠Women in Voice⁠⁠, & Host of ⁠⁠Your AI Roadmap⁠⁠. With a decade in software & AI, she has worked at Nuance, VERSA Agency, & OneReach.ai in data & analysis, product, & digital transformation. She's an investor & technical advisor to startup & enterprise. A CES & VentureBeat speaker & Harvard Business Review published author, she has a PhD & is based in Seattle.

Disclaimer: Our links may have affiliate codes. This is an educational podcast and not intended as legal, career, or financial advice. Seek professional guidance.

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Transcript

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Happy New Year, folks! This is a bonus episode. Something super shocking happened last night and I wanted to talk to you all. I'm on a Luna walk, which is a walk with Luna because she needs many walks. So if you hear birds chirping, etc. in the background, I wanted to talk to you all about something that happened last night. I was at my gym and I was promoting my book because the people at my gym are amazing. And I really, really hope some of them come to my book launch event here in Seattle on Sunday. And so I was handing out bookmarks. These bookmarks, I think are quite beautiful. Even my sister was like, I want one of those bookmarks. And she doesn't even care about my work. Anyway, so I was handing out bookmarks and someone said, hey, what's the book about? Your AI roadmap. Like, tell me more. And I said, well, it's about resilience of the age of AI. You know, I've been in two AI layoffs. and I built different revenue streams. I'm about to close my first A-figure deal. Really hope that closes, working my foot off. But I want to help other people. And I have a podcast, I'm an influencer, and people are in my DMs asking how to do it. So this book is about personal brand and networking and your finances and so forth. And this person looked at me and was like, I almost got laid off today. 30 % of my company got laid off today. I didn't get laid off. But I was really close. I felt it. And the silly thing she said is, I work at an AI company. Like it is very, very metaphysical to work at an AI company and potentially be in a layoff or an AI company. Let me say that twice to make sure you've heard me really clearly. She worked at an AI company. 30 % of the company was let go in an AI layoff. She didn't lose her job, but a ton of her colleagues did. And she needs to be resilient in the age of AI. And this is exactly, exactly what my book is about, is being resilient, whether you get cut, whether you don't get cut with your personal brand, your networking, and your money being secured. and becoming financially stable. So it was pretty wild that this person, believe pronouns she her. So I believe this person had a really, really similar experience to me. She didn't get laid off, but at the same time, she felt the fear. She felt that layer of anxiety. Her colleagues literally got laid off all around her. And looking at her and thinking about her career and her job, one of the first things that came to my mind is, is she financially secure? Is she gonna be okay? Does she have a plan? And... I didn't feel comfortable asking some random person from my gym about her financial security. Does she have an emergency fund? Does she have a plan? Does she have a network, et cetera? But that was on my mind. And I hope that maybe she'll check out the bookmark. Maybe she'll read it and be like, ooh, money stuff, okay? Or maybe it's just the networking part that she's like, I don't yet have a network or I wanna build my network to be more robust, et cetera. So it was just super. exciting to talk to someone who my book is literally for. It's a heartfelt gift of mine. it is a gift to you all. So personal branding, networking, money, stuff, financial freedom, building your wealth, taking care of yourself, your family, your community, etc. I just, I don't know how to tell you how it felt to look in her eyes and just that like startling like, like you hit the nail on the head kind of kind of moment. So I, I'm really thrilled to be able to meet people in person who might be experiencing this and thank goodness she wasn't laid off, but that layer of anxiety is certainly present and the potential ability for this book to help her. So if you're interested in these topics, if this sounds like something that you want to look into, about how to not just survive scrappy, freaking out, but actually thrive, be ready, be prepared, be confident through the age of AI. This book is for you. I really believe if you're listening to this, this book is for you. If you wanna learn more, check it out. You can see it at yourairodmap.com. There's tons more information about the book on my website. If you wanna go directly to the link and you're like, am ready to buy that book, yourairodmap.com / book will take you directly to the Amazon page. You can also check out more bullet points about it. Point being this story might match your story. I couldn't believe talking to this person and I'd be so honored if you buy this book as I really think it could help you. I hope you have a wonderful day and stay resilient, stay strong. Talk to you soon.