Getting Fired Used To Be A Rite Of Passage. Then Came 2025

What happens when getting fired transforms from a painful but growth-inducing experience into a tool of systemic oppression? Denise shares her personal journey through multiple job losses and firings, revealing how she initially viewed these experiences as a "female rite of passage" that ultimately pushed her toward entrepreneurship. But 2025 changed everything. In this solo episode, Denise unpacks the devastating shift from individual career setbacks to mass purges targeting marginalized workers. She examines the staggering statistic that 300,000 Black women were forced out of the workforce between January and August 2025 and explores the deliberate dismantling of DEI programs that once provided pathways to economic stability. Key topics include: Personal stories of being fired and the lessons learned from workplace mismatches Why female entrepreneurship surged 69% in 2025 and what's driving this shift The rollback of DEI initiatives despite proven profit increases for diverse teams How Black women are disproportionately affected by federal employment cuts The stark reality that only 54% of companies now prioritize women's career advancement (down from 91% in 2021) Why the wage gap persists and what it means for women's economic futures The cost of mass purges: billions in lost tax revenue and innovation driven underground This episode is essential listening for anyone navigating workplace dynamics, career transitions, women in business, or understanding the current state of diversity and inclusion in corporate America. Originally published on Substack with full citations and research links. #GettingFired #WomenInBusiness #DEI #FemaleEntrepreneurship #WorkplaceDiversity #CareerAdvice #BlackWomenAtWork #CorporateCulture #WomenLeaders #2025WorkforceTrends