My Journey with Grief in the Workplace

The Diary Series

A 5-minute read from my heart to yours

Tech Me As I Am is a groundbreaking podcast, newsletter and video series, that dares to disrupt corporate America by infusing self-love, vulnerability, and amplifying diverse voices. Our guests range from trailblazers, thought leaders, and everyday heroes who come to share their stories of triumph, setbacks, and how they navigate the corporate landscape with authenticity & emotional intelligence. It’s time to embrace your true self and revolutionize the corporate world, starting from within yourself.

I never thought I'd be writing this newsletter. But here I am, sharing one of the most challenging experiences of my life – navigating the loss of my mother while trying to maintain my professional life. As your host at Tech Me As I Am, I've always believed in being real with you, and today, I'm being as real as it gets.

You never expect to lose a loved one. And when you do it is one of the most challenging and difficult things a human-BEING can experience. We do our best to show up, we try our best to keep pushing forward, but to lose someone who brought you into this world and laid every foundation for you to succeed in this world, it can become a very dark place without them in it with you anymore.

AND then you still have to smile...and push on, pretend that you are ok all for the sake of capitalism and being there for those who need you the most (and this includes showing up for yourself).

Sound depressing?

Well, that's because it is and that is where I was in most of 2024.

[WATCH FULL EPISODE BELOW]

The Collision of Two Worlds

Let me be honest: there's nothing in our professional training that prepares us for the way grief crashes into our work life. I've found myself sitting in front of my laptop, staring at emails that suddenly seemed meaningless, trying to hold it together during meetings when all I want to do was cry. Some days, I can barely focus on the simplest tasks. Other days, I throw myself into work just to keep my mind occupied.

??That was the name of the game.

What I'm Learning About Grief at Work

Through this journey, I've discovered something important: we don't talk nearly enough about how to handle grief in corporate America. We're expected to take our bereavement leave and come back "normal." But I'm here to tell you – there is no normal anymore. Here's what my days really look like:

I find myself:

• Second-guessing decisions I would have made confidently before
• Taking breaks to cry in between meetings
• Feeling overwhelmed by simple tasks that used to be routine
• Struggling to maintain my usual enthusiasm in team discussions

Finding My Way Through

I've had to learn new ways to take care of myself while maintaining my professional responsibilities. Here's what's helping me:

Being Honest with My Team I made the decision to be upfront with my colleagues about what I'm going through. Not every detail, but enough so they understand why I might need extra time or space. This transparency has been more healing than I expected.

Creating New Boundaries I've learned to:

• Say "no" to projects that aren't essential right now
• Block off time in my calendar for processing
• Step away from my desk when emotions hit
• Communicate my needs clearly to my manager

Taking Care of Myself My self-care routine has become non-negotiable:

• Daily meditation, even if it's just for five minutes
• Regular exercise to process emotional energy
• Time in nature to clear my head
• Professional counseling to help me navigate this journey

A Message to Those Grieving

If you're reading this while dealing with your own loss, I want you to know something: you're not failing if you can't maintain your usual professional performance right now. You're not letting anyone down by needing time and space to grieve. You're human, and that's exactly what you should be.

Looking Forward

I don't know exactly what the future holds, but I do know that sharing this journey with you feels right. In upcoming episodes, I'll continue exploring these raw, real conversations about being human in corporate America.

Join Me

I'd love to hear your stories and create a space where we can support each other:

• Share your experiences using #TechMeAsIAmGrief
• Follow my journey @TechMeAsIAm