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There's a particular kind of heartbreak that comes when you've given your best - your intelligence, your care, your strategy, your execution - and instead of being recognized, you're let go.
Not because you failed. But because you saw too clearly.
I used to think that capability would be enough. That delivering results, deploying performant & scalable systems, mentoring with heart, and helping teams thrive would naturally lead to recognition, trust, and growth. And for a while, it did.
But then I noticed something. The clearer I became, the more I felt tension with leadership. The more I spoke with integrity, the more it seemed to rattle the very foundation of the system I was in. I didn't realize it then, but my ability to see misalignment - to name it, question it, and hold a higher standard - became a threat.
I was told I was "rough around the edges." Not because I lacked professionalism or results, but because I didn't play the political game. Because I challenged half-hearted leadership. Because I expected clarity, congruence, and courage from those who held power.
And so, I was let go and in some cases, I ended a company's subscription to me.
It felt like punishment. I asked myself: If I'm so capable, why couldn't I influence them more? If I did so much good work, networked, socialized, built trust, learned the business, served others around me, execute to the goals that were important, why wasn't it enough?
What I now see is this:
I wasn't rejected because I was ineffective. I was released (or I walked away) because I was too effective in revealing what was broken. My presence made it harder for leadership to hide. My clarity disrupted the comfort of dysfunction.
In truth, I was a catalyst - not just a contributor. And catalysts aren't always welcome in environments clinging to comfort. Catalysts initiate change, whether systems are ready for it or not. I don't share this from a place of bitterness, but from deep reflection. Because I know I'm not alone.
There are so many brilliant, values-driven professionals out there - especially women - who have been let go, sidelined, or silenced not because they failed, but because they told the truth in systems that couldn't bear to hear it.
To you, I say this: You were not let go for being too much. You were let go because you could not be controlled. Because you led with integrity. Because you are part of a different future. One that values presence over performance. Truth over politics. Impact over image.
If this speaks to you, you're not alone. And you're not lost. You're being re-routed - to places, people, and purposes that are ready for the clarity you carry. Because when systems can't hold your light, it doesn't mean you're broken. It means you're the spark for something better.
And to the skeptics or leaders who may read this and feel discomfort: I invite you to reflect, not react. Dismissing someone for being a catalyst does not erase their truth - it only delays the growth that was trying to take root.
This is also an invitation for a new kind of leadership. One rooted in conscious awareness, emotional maturity, and the courage to be uncomfortable in the service of something greater. Conscious leadership listens before it defends, seeks alignment over ego, and knows that truth-tellers aren't threats - they're gifts.
If you are a leader reading this, ask yourself:
- Are you creating space for truth - or only comfort?
- Are you promoting clarity - or protecting control?
- Are you modeling the culture you claim to value?
- How is the way you're showing up as a leader impacting the results your company or business unit is (or isn't) creating?
The future of leadership is conscious, inclusive, and courageous. The question is - who is willing to lead that way?
If this resonated with you and you are navigating your own season of misalignment, transition, or rediscovery, I'd be honored to support you. Book a Discovery Call with me to explore more. See the link at the top of my LinkedIn profile or send me a message to learn more.
Through 1:1 coaching, I help purpose-driven professionals and leaders reconnect with their truth, realign with what matters most, and lead from integrity - not fear.
Let's find the clarity you need and the path that truly fits. Because your story doesn't end where a system couldn't hold you. It begins where you remember who you really are.