Layoffs are back in the headlines. Job postings are down. Hiring cycles are longer.

What does that mean for MBA students and other professionals navigating today's market?

In this episode, I speak with Steve Jaffe, author of The Layoff Journey: From Dismissal to Discovery. Drawing on his experience of four layoffs across a 25-year marketing career, Steve maps job loss—and prolonged job search—to the seven stages of grief.

This conversation is both practical and deeply human.

You'll learn:

• Why career disruptions are emotional, not just logistical — and how naming the grief process reduces shame.

• How to separate your identity from your job title before you're forced to.

• Why networking before you need it is the ultimate resilience strategy in a market shaped by AI screening and hidden job opportunities.

• How hope and small daily wins compound over time, especially during a long job search.

Whether you've been laid off, are facing a challenging search, or simply want to future-proof your career, this episode offers a grounded framework for building resilience that lasts.

Learn more about Steve and his book at TheSteveJaffe.com. Check out previous episodes on Resilience and Stress with Polo DeCano, Self-Compassion with Jane Compson, Gratitude with Ryan Fehr, Self-Compassion with Andy Hafenbrack, and plenty of episodes that talk about networking.