Support Group for Recently Laid-off Federal Employees & Contractors
We are convening a support group for recently laid-off federal employees and federal contractors. This safe space will provide connection with others in similar situations; a place to express anger, fears, concerns, questions; and support for rebuilding, resources, confidence, and finding a path forward. This small group of 6 people will be facilitated by a leadership coach who works in federal agencies.
When: Weekly beginning first week of September 2025. Coach will take participants’ preferences into account when setting the time.
What: Series of 6 Zoom gatherings, 75 min each
Session 1: Orientation & Connection
Session 2: Your Identity, Career Search Strategies
Session 3: Your Values, Strengths, Resource Sharing
Session 4: Your Interests, Resource Sharing
Session 5: Your Pitch, Group Feedback, Resource Sharing
Session 6: Take Stock, Look Forward
Investment: Pay-what-you-can. My desire is to help federal workers in this difficult time. From experience I have found that investing some amount of money into a coaching opportunity helps with accountability and motivation. While my fee would normally be $500+ per person for 6 group coaching sessions, I don’t want cost to be a barrier for people whose finances may currently be stretched. Payment is required in advance.
Facilitator Bio: Ariana brings extensive experience in senior management, leadership development, management consulting, research and cross-cultural education into her work coaching leaders to be their best selves and have a positive impact. Ariana’s 25-year career has primarily been in the fields of international development (including co-directing a State Department-funded project), environment, and cross-cultural education. Now she dedicates her time to supporting leaders and teams to improve communication, step into confidence, build an inclusive culture, clarify vision and strategy, and manage/lead with authenticity. She provides leadership development to senior executives and leaders in federal agencies, higher education and non-profits. Ariana has personally experienced two lay-offs in her career.
Testimonials from our recent support group for USAID staff:
“Ariana did a great job as a calming presence and to keep us focused. She helped bring out important summaries and feelings. I loved the grounding activity.”
“The coaching and mindfulness exercises/homework were great.”
“Ariana kept us on point, inquired about our interests, was adaptive and insightful.”
“The sessions helped me clarify my goals and significantly improved the way I prepare for job applications and interviews. In particular, the values exercise, practicing self-introductions, and role-playing networking scenarios were especially important for me. Ariana created a supportive environment that allowed each of us to dive deep into self-discovery and discuss recent developments/situations, which helped me regain confidence during a challenging time in my professional journey. Ariana is a kind, caring, and insightful coach who truly supports others in their professional journeys.”