9/11, Setbacks, and Strength: My Path to Resilience

I’ll never forget that day—September 11, 2001. It was just two months after I got married. Life was perfect: I had a fantastic job at J. Walter Thompson, the internet was booming, and everything felt like it was falling into place.

That morning, as I walked along Lexington Ave, something felt off. The city was unusually quiet, like it knew something we didn’t. When I got to the office, everyone was glued to the TV in the lobby. The first plane had hit the Twin Towers, and we all stood there in disbelief. Then, just minutes later, we watched in horror as the second plane struck. In an instant, the world as we knew it changed.

The aftermath was devastating, not just emotionally but economically. The recession hit hard, and the once-thriving job market collapsed. My husband was laid off first, and despite the uncertainty, we decided to find hope by starting a family. We got pregnant quickly, but just three months later, I was laid off too. And let’s be honest—no one wanted to hire a pregnant woman. I was facing an uphill battle, and the weight of that reality was tough to carry.

My husband managed to find some contract work, but nothing consistent, and with a baby on the way, the bills kept piling up. Cobra insurance was bleeding us for $3,000 a month, and unemployment barely made a dent in our expenses. Six months later, we welcomed our beautiful son into the world. He was our bright spot during a dark time, but financially, things were still rough. After much thought, my husband and I made the decision: he would stay at home to care for both of his elderly parents and raise our son, while I focused on rebuilding my career.

After 15 long months of unemployment, I finally landed a job. But you know when something feels wrong from the start? That was this job. From Day 1, I knew it wasn’t going to be long-term, and sure enough, six months later, I was let go again. It was back to square one, and the frustration was real.

But I didn’t let that stop me. I secured a job at Modem Media. I knew the commute from Queens to Connecticut would be brutal. So, I financed a zippy little Honda Civic—thank goodness for affordable cars! Modem quickly became my second family. After some time, they were acquired by Digitas, which was then scooped up by Publicis. After 6.5 years there, I knew it was time for something new.

That’s when Carat came knocking. I took over ad operations, and over the next four years, I grew my team from 2 to 40+ people across multiple offices. It was exciting, especially since Carat was acquired by Aegis Media, and shortly after, by Dentsu. But after a great run, I was ready for another shift.

Merkle came next, where I helped scale their business, and wouldn’t you know it—Merkle was later acquired by Dentsu, too! It was almost like I could predict the future because when I left Dentsu, I joked they should buy Merkle. They listened!

But after almost four years, the culture at Merkle started to shift. I saw the writing on the wall. And sure enough, I was let go again. By now, though, I was getting pretty good at this. I moved on to Morgan Stanley, but working client-side in finance wasn’t the right fit for me either. And, as you’ve probably guessed, I got let go again.

The good news was that this time, I was already in talks with Randall Rothenberg about a new opportunity at the IAB. And, well, the rest is history.

Moral of the Story:

If you’re feeling stuck or discouraged by today’s job market, let me remind you of one important thing: being laid off is not a reflection of your worth or abilities. It happens. Sometimes it’s the economy, sometimes it’s a business decision, and sometimes it’s just plain bad timing. But being laid off is not about you. It’s about the situation.

Every time I was laid off, it felt like the end of the world in that moment, but each layoff became an opportunity to pause, rethink, and move forward. And let me tell you, there’s always something better waiting on the other side. Whether it’s a new role, a new direction, or an unexpected opportunity, it’s out there. I’ve been knocked down more times than I care to count, but every time, I got back up stronger and more certain of my path.

So if you’re facing a setback right now, remember this: you are resilient. You have already survived tough times, and you will survive this too. Don’t let one layoff or one “no” define your story. Keep your head up, keep pushing forward, and trust that your next chapter is coming. Sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you didn’t see coming, and often, those detours lead to the most incredible destinations.

It’s easy to feel defeated when the road gets bumpy, but it’s exactly those bumps that shape us. Trust in yourself, trust in the journey, and know that something amazing is just around the corner. Keep going—you’ve got this.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is strictly for informational purposes. For legal advice or actions, please consult external legal counsel. The opinions I share are solely mine and do not necessarily represent my employer’s views. Additionally, I do not provide warranties or endorsements for any companies, contacts, sources, or content mentioned, unless specifically stated as sponsored or similar. It is recommended that readers conduct their own due diligence and research.

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About this Newsletter

Angie's Career Gazette. Your source for US job opportunities, career advice and the latest trends in digital advertising & marketing.

In 2023, against the backdrop of challenges and layoffs in the U.S. advertising, marketing, and ad tech industry, Angelina observed a common struggle among her friends, colleagues and social network: the search for new career opportunities and resources. Balancing her role at IAB with her personal time, she initially shared job openings on her social media. Building on her substantial following, she officially launched 'Angie's Career Gazette,' evolving it into a comprehensive career resource hub. Beyond job listings, it offers valuable career tips, advice, and curated industry news.

About Angelina Eng (aka Ang | Angie | not?Angela)

With almost three decades of navigating the dynamic digital advertising landscape, Angelina Eng has become a renowned authority in this ever-changing field. Her background within prominent industry holding firms has propelled her into executive roles, spanning account management, media planning and buying, ad operations, and data analytics. Angelina's expertise extends to areas like data engineering, operational excellence, and advertising platforms. In her present position at the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), as VP Measurement, Addressability & Data Center, she focuses on creating educational materials, best practices, industry standards, research and events that delve into topics such as addressability, media analytics, attribution, and more.

Angelina is always open to meeting new people and making new friends; click the ?? "follow" button on?Angelina's LinkedIn profile .