If you’ve ever been blindsided by a layoff, wrestled with feeling “too old” for the job search, or wondered if your career peak is behind you, this episode is for you.

In this deeply honest and refreshingly human episode, I speak with Nick Passarelli, a fintech exec and former HR leader whose early career taught him the hard truth: corporate loyalty doesn’t always pay off.

From leading mass layoffs at just 24 years old to witnessing longtime employees get pushed out with nowhere to go, Nick saw firsthand how brutal and impersonal the system can be. Those early experiences shaped his lifelong commitment to advocating against ageism and helping older professionals navigate a work world that’s not exactly rooting for them.

We talk layoffs, job searches after 50, ageism’s impact on women, and why “Jenga families” are more common than you think. Nick brings honesty, humility, and plenty of practical advice (and memes–yes, really) to a conversation every mid-career professional needs to hear.

Nick's story is a powerful reminder that reinvention is possible and that empathy, preparation, and a little humor can go a long way.

“Never add your work friends onto your socials because they could totally use that against you. I learned this through a friend at my old company, and I thought it was brilliant.”

~ Nick Passarelli

In This Episode:

-Nick’s diverse career path, from HR to fintech

-Mass layoffs during Y2K and the emotional toll

-First encounter with ageism, layoffs for long-tenured workers

-Transitioning from HR to compliance, adapting career focus

-What it's like for a young recruiter to interview older candidates

-Maximizing “prime earning years” (35-55) and balancing expenses

-“Jenga families” and the financial risks of not planning for job transitions

-The personal impact of job loss in your 50s

-How women can set themselves up for success

-Networking, upskilling, and staying positive in a job search