It’s easy — even comforting — to blend in with your badge.
We introduce ourselves with our name followed by the company.
We join meetings carrying that title.
We post with the credibility it gives.
But at the end of the day, the company is just where you are — not who you are.
You are what you’ve built.
What you’ve learned — and taught.
You are the reputation that stands when your name shows up alone.
You are the value that stays when the badge is gone.
That question hit harder after yesterday’s Microsoft layoffs.
Brilliant, talented, collaborative people — still impacted by decisions far beyond performance.
It’s a painful reminder that there’s no real stability in the badge.
Which brings us to something urgent: Upskilling is no longer a differentiator — it’s survival.
- Keep learning — not just tech, but business, strategy, soft skills
- Build presence and value beyond your title
- Leave a trace of impact — something that speaks for you
- Cultivate real connections — people are the real safety net
- Adapt fast — the market won’t wait
Uncertain times call for courage, community, and reinvention.
If the badge disappears tomorrow, will your name still carry weight? That’s the real question.
