Hey Friends,

This week, the corporate world got a jolt.

Amazon and Microsoft—two of the largest employers of white-collar talent—announced sweeping reductions in sales and corporate roles. The reason? AI.

If you’re like many of the professionals I coach, these headlines feel uncomfortably close. The teams being restructured aren't on the frontlines—they're at headquarters. They're people like you: strategic thinkers, trusted advisors, steady performers.

And here’s the part that doesn’t make the headlines:

The hardest part of disruption isn’t the technology. It’s what happens to your confidence when the role you once mastered… no longer fits.

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What Most Professionals Do First (and Why It Backfires)

When roles start disappearing, the instinct is to scramble:

· Update your resume

· Apply for anything remotely adjacent

· Add AI to your LinkedIn headline and hope it sticks

But here’s the thing: reacting out of fear almost always leads to mismatches. You end up chasing stability rather than designing a career that aligns with your strengths, values, and future vision.

That’s why in moments like this, I coach clients to pause—not out of inaction, but for strategic reflection.

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Your Strengths Are Still Valid

In Chapter 5 of Career by Design, I guide readers through mapping their top strengths and growth areas—not just as a feel-good exercise, but as a foundation for making smart, aligned career decisions.

Right now, this work is more important than ever.

Your role may be changing. But your strengths? They’re still here. They’re still yours. And they’re still deeply valuable.

In fact, here’s what I want you to remember:

Strengths are not tied to titles. They’re tied to outcomes.

Start by asking:

· What have I consistently been relied on for—even across different jobs?

· What types of challenges do I enjoy solving?

· Where do I create results with less effort than others?

Document those answers. Then ask: Where else—what kinds of roles, projects, or organizations—would value this?

That question moves you out of panic mode and into strategic positioning.

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Growth Areas: Don’t Just Chase Skills. Choose Them.

It’s easy to feel pressure to “upskill” every time disruption hits.

But in Career by Design, I offer a different approach: choose growth that expands your opportunitiesandaligns with your identity.

That might look like:

· Learning how to lead cross-functional teams that include AI specialists

· Developing your storytelling skills to explain complex ideas to senior leaders

· Getting fluent in the tools changing your function—not to become a tech expert, but to guide adoption

Remember, growth should open doors—not bury you in busywork.

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Use Disruption to Realign

If your role is changing, ask yourself:

· Does my work still reflect the impact I want to make?

· Do I feel energized by how I’m spending my time—or just proficient?

· Am I growing in ways that align with my desired future?

If not, maybe this shake-up is also a wake-up.
Not to start over—but to start again with more clarity.

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A Personal Note

I’ve sat with too many brilliant professionals who, after a layoff or reorg, began to doubt their worth.

If that’s you, please hear me:

💡 You are not obsolete. You are evolving.​
💡 You are not your job description. You are the force behind it.

AI is changing the corporate landscape. But your strengths—your insight, your humanity, your leadership—remain your edge.

Let’s design your next move with intention.

If this resonates, I unpack more in my latest blog post:

​➡️ When AI Disrupts Your Role—Lead With Your Strengths

With you on your journey,

Nitza
Owner | Nitza Rivera Coaching & Consulting
Author of Career by Design: Mastering the Art of a Rewarding Corporate Career​

​Subscribe to this newsletter and get access to the Uncovering Your Core Values Workbook!

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About the Author: Nitza Rivera is an executive coach and human capital consultant with a background in mechanical engineering and HR. She helps professionals master career transitions, achieve their dream roles, and find lasting career fulfillment. Nitza is passionate about aligning professional growth with personal values and guiding individuals through meaningful career transformations.

Feeling stuck on how to align your career with your values and strengths? Let’s talk. Schedule a free discovery call here!

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