From Security to Uncertainty
How Myriam Bougo’s First Layoff Opened New Doors
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What was your role and industry before your layoff? Head of Global Customer Experience & Marketing Network in Medical Devices & Digital Solutions
What surprised you most about yourself in the weeks that followed?
Honestly, it was the sense of freedom and excitement I felt like I’d exhaled after holding my breath for two years. During my final stretch at the company, I was frustrated and stuck. My role no longer fit, and with that came a creeping loss of self-confidence. I didn’t feel I was adding value anymore. The culture had shifted, and I knew the upcoming restructure would only amplify what was already difficult: layers of decision-making. As someone who is naturally impatient and action-oriented, I often came up with ideas I believed in. But the process of getting buy-in was so slow and complex that it chipped away at my motivation. After years of the same dynamic—pitching, waiting, navigating silos—I started anticipating the resistance before even speaking up. Eventually, when a good idea came to mind, I’d immediately think, “It’s going to be an internal battle to get this through. Is it really worth the energy?” That’s when I realized I wasn’t just tired—I had stopped believing change was possible,
The layoff process dragged on for almost a year. There’s no perfect way to do a layoff. Do it quickly, and people feel blindsided. Do it slowly, and it drains everyone. For me, it became physical. I remember walking into the company canteen and feeling like I’d taken a punch to the stomach. That was my body telling me, "Enough." That was the signal I had to leave the golden cage.
The decision wasn’t easy. For those into the Enneagram—I’m a 7. I tend to thrive on change. Every 10 years or so, I need to shake things up. I had to factor in my age, the package, and my likelihood of finding something meaningful. But when I was finally laid off, I felt liberated. I didn’t know what the new chapter would look like, but I was energized to figure it out.
Another surprise was how quickly you become invisible to some people. I’ll give you one example: A young junior professional had invited me to speak at a CX congress. I was happy to say yes and clearly mentioned that by the time of the event, I’d no longer be working for my company. She followed up a week before I left to finalize the form, and I listed “ex-Company name” under my name. She called and said they couldn’t list me as “ex”—and suggested I lie, since technically, I was still employed while filling out the form. I said no. I wasn’t going to mislead attendees or misrepresent my situation. She told me I couldn’t be a speaker then. I said, “Fair enough.” But it was a telling moment.
After 30 years in corporate life, what was it like to suddenly be in unstructured time?
It was…deliberate. I gave myself two full months off, on purpose. No goals, no pressure. In Europe, we’re lucky to have a bit more breathing room thanks to stronger severance packages and universal healthcare, even if you have never worked in your life!. That gives you time to think, and I used that to reset.
I planned a trip to Egypt with my family, organized my finances, and just enjoyed the pause. Of course, my curiosity didn’t take a vacation—I took online courses on AI for Marketing, personal finance, and the “Science of Well-Being” from Yale. I needed the space to explore, without rushing.
Two months later, I was ready to build the structure back in. I set up a routine—up at 6:00, dog walk at 7:00, “work” from 9:00 to 18:00h with tools I was using in my former jobs like Kanban Trello boards, measuring KPIs vs my objectives (ex., # of coffees to network per week…). I enrolled in associations, taking an active role in the local leadership team. My job became finding a job. I treated it like a real role: added networking events, followed a schedule. And here’s the twist: networking often happens after hours, so my “search” days ended up longer than my old corporate ones.
How did you begin to untangle your identity from your résumé?
That part was surprisingly smooth. I’ve always seen my work as an expression of who I am, not a definition. My job didn’t give me my identity—it allowed it to show. That made the separation easier. It didn’t feel like I had lost “who I was”—just the place where I applied it.
What helped you move from reflection into action without rushing the process?
Two key phases. First, when the restructuring was announced nearly a year ahead, I had time to mentally prepare. The workload gradually slowed, and I started wondering: “What if I actually get laid off? What would I do?” I was 53. That felt like a crossroads. I could either double down and keep climbing or pivot. I bought a French book called “Find your way in 10 sessions of auto-coaching” - Trouver sa voie de Caroline Averty and Bourgeois - very practical, lots of templates. The exercises had me reflect on everything from childhood passions to professional highlights.
Spoiler: my answers were consistent. Reinvention was possible—but not fast. And I realized I didn’t actually hate my job. I just didn’t fit the culture of where I was anymore. So instead of jumping into a totally new career, I looked for a company where I could still make an impact, but with better alignment.
The second phase came later. After two months of networking, I hit a wall. I didn’t know what to say about myself anymore. I couldn’t explain my value proposition clearly, and I didn’t know what made me unique. So I stopped. Took a step back. And started working with an outplacement consultant. That process changed everything. It helped me articulate my story and reframe my strengths. The consultant also had an incredible network of people who’d been through similar transitions. Their support helped me build my confidence and my networking muscle.
Can you share what “paralysis by analysis” looked like when trying to define your value proposition?
Oh, absolutely. And I love that question because it means I’m not the only one. I had everything—performance reviews, DISC assessments, 360 feedbacks, and LCPs. Eight years’ worth of data about myself. I drowned in it. The same themes kept popping up—authentic, collaborative leadership, data-driven, international mindset, get things done—but I couldn’t distill it into a clean narrative. I kept bouncing between soft skills and hard skills, between personality and performance. It was overwhelming.
What finally helped you get clarity on what makes you unique, and how did that feel?
Three things helped me crack it:
I used AI tools. ChatGPT, Notebook LM… I fed them all my feedback and documents, and the output was incredible. I even got a podcast script out of it.
My outplacement firm gave me access to several coaches at different points. Each came in fresh, reviewed my work, and could quickly pinpoint the top three qualities that stood out.
Around the same time, I joined a club for executive and board-level women. They had a personal branding program that helped me pull it all together into one clear story.
The result? Clarity and a sense of peace. It felt like a rebirth after months of waiting… I finally had my story—not just a list of achievements, but a narrative I believed in.
How have conversations with people outside your former company helped you see new angles on your strengths or goals?
They’ve been crucial. When you’ve spent years inside one company, you start to think what you do is “normal.” But when you talk to others, you realize it’s not. One moment stands out: I was at a networking roundtable on Leadership and Innovation. I mentioned SAFe Agile—something very common in my old company—and no one had heard of it. I brought up how we’d embedded AI into our customer solutions, and again, silence. That’s when I thought, “Huh. Maybe I actually know a lot.” It gave me a new lens on my strengths and helped me appreciate the exposure and training I’d had. Ironically, it helped me reconnect emotionally with my former company. It reminded me of everything I had gained.
What did you learn about yourself while taking courses or exploring topics outside your usual path?
I didn’t necessarily learn something new about myself—it was more like remembering what really matters to me at work. The courses confirmed what I already knew: I’m naturally curious and love to explore new topics. But what stood out more clearly, especially while connecting with people outside my usual circles, was just how important the way of working is for my energy and motivation.
So, I came out of this phase much clearer on what I want and what I absolutely don’t. I can’t work in environments with chronic lateness, micromanagement, or toxic leadership—places where fun disappears from the equation. I need to enjoy what I do, to laugh, to feel energized. That’s a core part of who I am. I want a culture that respects time, encourages collaboration and empowerment, and keeps things moving.
I also learned I’m not interested in a permanent role at a startup—too much instability. But I’d be happy to support them through advisory or project-based work, where I can add value without being tied to the chaos.
You mentioned wanting to return to pharma, potentially in a different environment. What considerations are you holding between what’s familiar and what you now want?
My experience in big pharma gave me a rock-solid foundation—strategy, operations, cross-functional leadership. They train you like hell to be an outstanding leader, they expose you to innovations, to new ways of working. I’ll never regret that. But I’m drawn now to something more nimble, more human in scale. I want to feel close to the action again, to have a more direct impact.
The purpose is non-negotiable. Healthcare has meaning. It’s intellectually stimulating and emotionally fulfilling. Understanding diseases, supporting healthcare professionals and patients—that’s the kind of work that drives me. At the same time, I’m pragmatic. In Europe, companies want plug-and-play candidates. So while I’m open to new structures, I know my best fit right now may still be in MedTech—just within a more agile, aligned organization.
What fears or unknowns are you sitting with as you consider stepping into something different?
The biggest one? Misreading the culture during interviews. I don’t want to end up somewhere I don’t fit. And there’s also the adaptation dance. I want to bring what I know—but I also know I’ll need to adjust. A successful integration is a two-way street. I’m ready for the tango, but I hope my next company is too.
What advice would you have for others around staying grounded in your values while exploring what’s next?
Pause regularly and ask yourself: What do I really want, and why? It’s so easy to get distracted by titles, by financial pressure, or the need to prove something. For me, writing down my top values—like honesty and courage, curiosity and love of learning, action and results-orientation, mobilizing collaboration—has been a great compass. I use them to filter every opportunity.
It’s not always easy. There’s pressure to move fast. But when your next step aligns with your values, confidence and clarity follow.
Final thoughts I’d like to add:
This is a period where social support is crucial; you go from interacting during hours with colleagues, as our agendas are packed with meetings, to being alone behind your computer at home. I’ve found real joy in networking. I don’t approach it just to find a job—I see it as a space to learn, discover, and contribute. I’ve met 325 people since I began my search. More than half were completely new contacts. That’s 325 new conversations, insights, and ideas.
That said, I still question the “80% of jobs aren’t posted, so do networking” comment. Maybe it’s true, maybe not. But it certainly helps keep morale up. Searching alone from your home office can be isolating. And we know from research that social connection boosts happiness.
One more unexpected part of the journey is my new Labrador that popped up in our home 10 months before my lay-off. I swapped coffee breaks with ex-colleagues for walk-and-sniff sessions. Scientifically proven: when you pet a dog, your body releases oxytocin—linked to joy, bonding, and love. It’s been the most heartwarming therapy I didn’t know I needed.
Want to follow Myriam’s next chapter? Find her on LinkedIn
