OUR WHY

well transitioned™

Built from a moment that never left.

Layoffs are among the most difficult moments an organization will ever face. They affect people's incomes, careers, families, leaders, and company culture. While no layoff is easy, we believe it can be handled with clarity, compassion, and care.

well transitioned™ brings more than 50 years of executive HR leadership experience across our team. We've personally planned and led layoffs affecting more than 2,000 employees, from individual role eliminations to large-scale workforce reductions communicated to hundreds of employees at once.

50+
Years Combined
HR Leadership
2,000+
Employees Through
Layoffs We've Led
5
Companies Including
Google, IBM, FedEx
Heather Schwager
Heather Schwager
Head of Layoff Planning & Execution

Leading Layoff Planning & Execution

Heather's Story

I have spent more than 25 years helping organizations build high-performing teams, navigate periods of growth and change, and lead through difficult business decisions. I served as a Senior HR Business Partner/VP/SVP at IBM and Marsh & McLennan, supporting divisions of hundreds of employees.

I then spent 10 years managing workplace changes in the K-12 sector, and most recently, I've been honored to serve as the Founding Head of People for five startups, and as a trusted consultant to organizations who want my advice on how to reduce stress and treat everyone well, even on the hardest of days.

"My goal is simple: to help leaders walk into layoff day feeling prepared, confident, and supported."

I specialize in helping organizations thoughtfully plan and execute layoffs, from workforce strategy and selection processes to manager preparation, communications, legal coordination, and employee experience. I believe that even the hardest business decisions can be carried out with transparency, empathy, and respect.

25+
Years in HR Leadership
5
Startups, Founding Head of People
IBM · Marsh & McLennan
Senior HR Leadership
Rafael-Cristian Rios
Rafael-Cristian Rios
Head of Career Transition Support - CEO
Rafael's Story

Built From a Moment That Never Left

Early in my career I had to advise over 90 colleagues I had personally hired, trained and worked with for years that they were being laid off. I arrived early to work that Friday morning and was told on the spot to take "this list" and tap each person on the shoulder, one by one, and tell them to go into the conference room that lead out into the parking lot.

When it was over I walked out to that same parking lot and found all my colleagues there, speaking to the news, crying, confused, holding their boxes, with no one to help them understand what had just happened or what came next.

That hurt never left me. "No one should have to stand in a parking lot alone."

For over 25+ years in my career I keep seeing the same gap. It's time for us to improve this process so that we protect the mental health of people who contribute to the growth of our organizations.

25+
Years in HR & L&D Leadership
56,000+
Employees Coached
Google · FedEx · Kaiser
Senior Leadership

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