Kyle Rowe

I’ve seen a lot of posts this week about the Amazon and Meta layoffs, and my heart goes out to everyone affected. I’ve been recruiting and hiring through some wild job markets, and I’ve seen how tough and heavy this side of the cycle can be. If you were impacted, here’s my honest advice: 1. Apply for unemployment immediately. It takes a while to process. Most states back pay you for the weeks it’s pending, but please don’t wait. There’s NO shame in getting what’s owed to you. Times are tough, and this is a safety net for a reason. 2. Take your time with severance paperwork (and NEGOTIATE!) You’ll likely get a packet from HR with a severance offer and a release form (basically: you accept the package they're offering you, and you agree not to sue for wrongful termination). That’s negotiable like everything in life. You CAN ask for more money, longer coverage on your insurance, more time to vest equity. There's no guarantee that you'll get what you want, but you won't know until you try. Read all of your paperwork carefully. Do not have these negotiations over the phone. Get everything in writing. You don’t have to sign anything right away. 3. This market feels rough, but there *IS* opportunity. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: the last few years have been wild for tech. The market’s uneven and highly competitive, but there are so many new AI and startup companies getting funded right now. When companies raise, they hire. Follow people like Tim He and Haley ONeill on LinkedIn - they frequently post about companies that are raising and hiring. Use LinkedIn, and honestly, use LLMs to help you research who’s raising and growing. 4. We're hiring at Evertune 💪 We’re building teams in NYC and Seattle. We’re hiring engineers, client services folks, a financial controller, and will be opening more roles soon! If you were affected by the Amazon or Meta layoffs, or if you’re just looking for a new challenge in AI, please reach out. If we’ve crossed paths before, or have mutual connections, I’d love to chat about what we’re building and how you could be part of it. This market is still very weird, but it’s not hopeless. Take care of yourself, protect your peace, negotiate, and don’t lose sight of the fact that there are better chapters ahead 🫶

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Yelp’s Chief Culture Officer, Miriam Warren, shared a great piece diving into the impact of our 21 Yelp Employee Resource Groups (YERGs). She shares that nearly half of our workforce belongs to at least one group, and nearly 4 out of 10 Yelpers belong to more than one (which is much higher than the U.S. national benchmarks reported by Pew Research). What I love is that our YERGs host virtual programming that is open to everyone, covering real-world skills like navigating AI, home buying, and leadership. Miriam shared that 93% of Yelpers agree Yelp fosters an inclusive environment, and having access to these kinds of open, supportive spaces is a huge reason why 🌟 Check out her full post here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gVCGh9FP  #LifeAtYelp #FiveStarCareer

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Explore our annual letter to see why we remain deeply optimistic about the future of the internet economy 🎉 The momentum is just beginning 🥳

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It’s important to call this what it is: a strategic business pivot, not a “culture issue.” Framing layoffs of this scale—especially when they heavily impact engineering, product, and mid-level technical talent—as a culture problem is both inaccurate and unfair to the employees impacted. Large-scale reductions like these typically reflect shifts in business priorities, evolving skill needs, and investments in areas like AI, automation, and platform consolidation. Companies don’t eliminate nearly 40% engineering roles because of culture; they do it because they’re restructuring for a different future. What’s equally important is how those decisions are carried out. When efficiency moves faster than empathy, layoffs can quickly feel dehumanizing. It’s a reminder that a “profit over people” mindset may deliver short-term gains but often leaves long-term cultural scars—undermining the very culture companies claim to protect. Strategic pivots are sometimes necessary. Transparent and humane execution is always necessary. #Leadership #HRLeadership #FutureOfWork #Layoffs

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To keep pace with rapid growth and deliver even better experiences for users and businesses, Yelp transitioned to a streaming lakehouse architecture built on AWS. From streamlining data ingestion to leveraging next-gen analytics, discover how our team navigated technical challenges and unlocked new possibilities with AWS’s powerful tools. Read more on the AWS blog: https://lnkd.in/gNKSifHa #Yelp #Lifeatyelp #AWS #lakehouse #datainfrastructure #streaming

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What a16z’s TxO Pause Signals for Founders and Tech a16z is pausing its TxO program. Over the past five years, TxO supported founders outside traditional Silicon Valley networks, especially women and underrepresented founders. It helped 60+ companies and nearly 100 founders with funding, mentorship, and access to networks they might not have reached otherwise. This is not a sign of another tech crash. TxO was a small, special program, and its pause reflects a strategic shift. a16z is taking what it learned from TxO and applying it in other programs like Speedrun, which focus on startups with high growth potential. If you are a founder, recruiter, or building a startup and this affects you, there are still opportunities. I am happy to offer advice, share resources, or connect you with networks and programs that can help. Reach out if you want to talk through next steps or explore options. #startups #founders #entrepreneurship #tech #venturecapital #networking

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It’s another tough week for many professionals impacted by the recent Amazon layoffs. Losing a job isn’t just about work...it’s about identity, stability, and community. To those affected: your contributions mattered, and this moment doesn’t define your worth or potential. The job market is shifting fast. Upskilling, exploring new industries, and staying adaptable are no longer optional, they’re essential. Whether it’s learning new technologies, expanding your network, or reimagining your next move, small steps now can build powerful momentum forward. That's exactly where DRUM UPSKILL can help, by providing the tools, training, and guidance professionals need to stay competitive and move confidently into what’s next. If you’re navigating this transition, know that you’re not alone. Reach out, connect, and take things one day at a time. Every ending can be the start of something new.

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