Laid Off from Amazon After 11 Years: How My Daughter’s Resilience Taught Me to Embrace Change
By Staff Reporter | February 16, 2026
In the cutthroat world of Big Tech, layoffs have become a harsh reality, but for one former Amazon executive, the sudden end of an 11-year tenure turned into an unexpected opportunity for growth and reflection. Hemant Virmani, a 47-year-old senior software development manager from Washington state, was let go in October 2025 amid Amazon’s latest wave of job cuts. What could have been a devastating blow instead became a “refreshing change,” thanks in large part to the wisdom of his high school daughter.[1]
A Midnight Email Shatters Stability
Virmani’s journey at Amazon spanned 11.5 years, a period during which the e-commerce giant became woven into the fabric of his daily life. That all changed with a shocking midnight email in October 2025, notifying him of his layoff. “Amazon was part of my daily life for 11.5 years, and suddenly it was gone,” Virmani recounted in an as-told-to essay published by Business Insider.[1]
The timing couldn’t have been worse personally. Just weeks after the layoff, Virmani lost his father and traveled to India for a month to support his grieving family. Amid this turmoil, he also helped his teenage daughter finalize her college application essays, a process that tested his emotional resilience.[1]
The Lesson from a Teenager’s Playbook
Amid the chaos, Virmani’s high school daughter emerged as his unexpected guide. Watching her navigate her own challenges with poise and optimism, he learned the power of staying positive and forward-focused. “Watching my teenage daughter navigate her own difficult situation taught me the biggest lesson in how to move forward well,” he shared.[1]
Her approach—keeping cool under pressure and emphasizing the future over the past—inspired Virmani to reframe his layoff not as a failure, but as a pivot point. This mindset shift has propelled him into proactive steps: upskilling in artificial intelligence (AI), applying for engineering roles, and prioritizing physical fitness through regular exercise.[1]
Amazon’s Ongoing Layoff Saga
Virmani’s story is one thread in a larger tapestry of workforce reductions at Amazon. The October 2025 layoffs, which claimed around 14,000 jobs, followed previous rounds in 2023 and earlier, signaling a broader strategy to streamline operations amid economic pressures and technological shifts.[1][4]
Reports indicate Amazon planned further cuts, potentially affecting 16,000 corporate employees in areas like AWS, Alexa, Bedrock, Redshift, ProServe, Prime, and delivery teams. An internal employee even leveraged Amazon’s own AI tool, Pippin, to parse Slack conversations and predict impacted teams, highlighting the irony of AI both driving and analyzing layoffs.[3]
Industry observers link these moves to overstaffing during the pandemic boom and a push toward AI efficiencies. “Amazon had grown too much too fast,” noted experts in a Business Insider podcast, warning that AI could accelerate job displacement across tech.[4]
Financial Preparation: Lessons from Repeat Layoff Survivors
Virmani’s experience echoes that of others, like Joanelle Cobos, a former Amazon design manager laid off in the same October round—her fourth career layoff. Cobos credited her $25,000 emergency fund, built during her six-figure tenure, for turning the initial shock into a “paid vacation” period of reset. However, as savings dwindle, the job search intensifies, underscoring the ticking clock many face.[2]
Moving Forward: Practical Advice from the Trenches
Virmani offers sage advice to fellow laid-off workers: detach personally from the event, as layoffs stem from corporate environments, not individual shortcomings. “Layoffs are not about you. It’s about an environment that is driving layoffs,” he emphasized. Instead of dwelling on the past, focus on reaction and next steps—whether that’s networking, skill-building, or self-care.[1]
His regimen now includes AI courses to stay competitive in a job market where tech giants prioritize emerging technologies. Applications for new engineering positions are underway, blending caution with optimism. “Only time will tell if this layoff is a blessing in disguise,” Virmani mused, already sensing positive momentum.[1]
Broader Implications for Tech Workers
As Amazon’s corporate headcount—roughly 350,000 out of 1.5 million global employees—continues to shrink, the layoffs ripple through the industry. Experts predict more companies may follow suit, balancing AI adoption with human labor. Yet stories like Virmani’s highlight human adaptability, proving that personal growth can emerge from corporate upheaval.[3][4]
For those affected, the message is clear: prepare financially, lean on support networks—like a wise teenager—and pivot proactively. Virmani’s refreshing outlook offers hope amid uncertainty, reminding us that endings can herald bold new beginnings.
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