In this episode of Black Women Will Save Black Women, Kamika opens the Fail Forward File with a reflection on burnout, control, and why peace comes from focusing on what's actually yours to hold. She's joined by entrepreneur and coach Samantha Cook, who shares the moment she was fired from Microsoft and how that rupture became the catalyst for launching Inside the Cubicle Career Coaching and Consulting. Together they get candid about rest as resistance, naming job loss without shame and the practical first steps that keep you afloat while you rebuild. The episode closes with this week's S.A.V.E. Strategy: Elevate—raise awareness of your limits and honor rest as mandatory.

Samantha Cook is a University of Washington alumna and five‑star career coach who spent over a decade leading upskilling and performance programs at Amazon and Microsoft. In March 2025 she was fired — and within 30 days launched Inside the Cubicle Career Coaching and Consulting, securing a University of Washington partnership within 60 days. An AI optimization specialist who worked on Microsoft Copilot agents and named one of Seattle's Top 15 Career Coaches, Samantha helps clients navigate layoffs, negotiate six‑figure offers, and turn setbacks into setups.

TikTok: @insidethecubicle

LinkedIn: Samantha Cook, M.A.

www. insidethecubicle.com

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