A role changes. A position ends. Retirement becomes a real possibility. The practical question is “What happens next?” Underneath it may be a harder one: “Who am I now?”

One lesson from my grief training changed how I understand these moments: grief can be what we feel when we lose something, or experience a change, that we did not want. That can include familiar work, relationships, belonging, or a future we expected. Even a departure we choose can involve losses we weren't prepared for.

I know the fear and shame of losing a position and wondering whether I would find my footing again. Later, a mass departure from my firm and my own career crossroads challenged what I understood about leadership, relationships, and identity. My grief training and two years of leadership coaching helped me put words to those experiences.

Now AI is bringing questions about our professional futures into the room. Some people fear being pushed out. Others are considering retirement or leaving the profession and feel conflicted about letting go.

A central lesson guides this session: grief must be witnessed. We'll make room for those questions with empathy, acknowledging each person's experience without judging their response or rushing them toward an answer.

Using the CARE framework and career-transition exercises I have used myself, we'll practice critical conversations and explore identity, strengths, and possibilities beyond a current role. Whether you're supporting a colleague, advising a client, or considering your own next chapter, you're welcome here. Sharing is optional. You'll leave with a conversation guide and a practical next-step exercise that allows uncertainty alongside possibility.