Urania Gibbs

What I Know About Going Up Against Institutions There is a moment that comes right after an institution wrongs you. Your chest is tight. Your hands want to type something in all caps. You want to call everyone you know. You want the person who did it to feel what you feel, immediately, at full volume. I know that moment well. I have lived it more than once. I have stood in it as an employee, as a homeowner, as a veteran, as a mother. And I am going to tell you the most important thing I have...

Frustrated employee looking at laptop appearing to be distressed. You have been here before. The version of your career where you knew your work, trusted your instincts, and had the track record to back it up. Strong reviews. Consistent delivery. A reputation built over years, sometimes decades, of showing up and producing. And now someone is sitting across from you telling you there is a performance problem. The dissonance is jarring in a way that is hard to describe to someone who has not...

Distressed worker packing personal belongings You did the hard part. You left. Maybe you negotiated severance. Maybe you walked. Maybe they pushed you out and called it your decision. The exit is behind you. The story has an ending. Except it doesn't. Six months later, you're in a new role. Better company. Functional manager. And you can't read an email without looking for a hidden meaning. You can't take positive feedback without questioning the motive. A teammate disagrees with you in a...