Indian-origin techie, laid off from Amazon after 11 years, shares how his teenage daughter helped him bounce back

By Admin

17 Feb, 2026

A Sudden End to an 11.5-Year Journey

For 47-year-old Hemant Virmani, an Indian-origin tech professional based in Washington, October 2025 brought an unexpected turning point. After spending more than 11 years at Amazon as a Senior Software Development Manager, he received a middle-of-the-night email informing him that his role had been eliminated.

In an as-told-to essay published by Business Insider, Virmani described the shock of losing a job that had become a central part of his daily life.

“Amazon was part of my daily life for 11.5 years, and suddenly it was gone,” he wrote.

Having previously seen colleagues laid off in 2023, he understood the business realities. Yet, experiencing it personally felt entirely different. “There is no right way or easy way to conduct layoffs,” he reflected.

Support in a Difficult Moment

The morning after receiving the email, Virmani attended a mandatory 30-minute meeting with his manager. He described the conversation as supportive and delivered in a “positive, human way.”

An old manager also reached out and met him at a coffee shop to check on his wellbeing   a small but meaningful gesture during a vulnerable time.

Despite this support, the initial days were emotionally heavy. Processing the sudden change after more than a decade in one company was not easy.

How His Daughter Changed His Perspective

What ultimately shifted his mindset was watching his teenage daughter. A high school senior, she had faced a difficult personal situation the previous year and demonstrated remarkable resilience during her recovery.

Virmani said her response to adversity inspired him deeply.

“She had an adverse situation happen to her last year that required recovery. How she reacted in that difficult time inspired me. Her mental model was: ‘Challenges don't have to keep me from showing up for myself or for others.’”

Observing her calm strength helped him reframe his own situation.

“I kind of learned from her that I had to take this layoff with positivity, keep my cool, and focus on what was next.”

Her resilience became his blueprint.

Personal Loss and Time for Reflection

Weeks after the layoff, Virmani experienced another major life event   the passing of his father. He travelled to India to support his family and took nearly a month to reflect on his career, priorities, and future direction.

This period of pause and introspection proved transformative. What initially felt like a setback slowly began to feel like an opportunity for reset.

A ‘Blessing in Disguise’

Today, Virmani describes the break as a “refreshing change.” His perspective on career goals has shifted.

He is now less concerned about the size or brand name of the next company he joins and more focused on the impact of the work itself. He hopes to head engineering for an organization that creates meaningful value for customers.

He has also begun upskilling in artificial intelligence, determined to stay proactive in an evolving tech landscape. Working on a hobby AI project, he is building hands-on experience while applying for head-of-engineering roles and actively networking.

Health, Routine, and Community Support

The layoff prompted significant lifestyle changes. Virmani now prioritizes his health, going to the gym four to five days a week and structuring his days between job applications and learning new skills.

When he shared his layoff publicly on LinkedIn, he received an outpouring of support from friends, former colleagues, and even acquaintances he had not spoken to in decades. Some of these messages have already opened doors to new job opportunities.

Though he admits to still feeling anxious about when his next role will come, he believes the experience may ultimately turn out to be a “blessing in disguise.”

Advice for Others Facing Layoffs

Virmani’s message to others going through similar situations is clear and practical:

• Layoffs are not personal   they are driven by broader business and economic environments.
  
  

• You cannot change what has already happened.
  
  

• Focus on what you can control next.
  
  

• How you react makes all the difference.
  
  

His journey highlights a powerful truth: sometimes resilience comes from unexpected places   even from our own children.

In a world of rapid industry shifts and technological disruption, Virmani’s story is not just about losing a job. It is about perspective, adaptability, and finding strength in family during life’s most uncertain moments.