Amazon Techie Laid Off After 11 Years, Daughter's Resilience Inspires His Response

• Hemant Virmani, a senior software development manager, was laid off from Amazon after 11.5 years via a midnight email in October 2025.
• Despite the shock, Virmani found inspiration in his teenage daughter's resilience during a challenging period she faced the previous year.
• He described his 30-minute meeting with his manager as supportive and positive, humanizing the difficult experience.
• After the layoff and the loss of his father, Virmani spent a month in India, reflecting on career goals and supporting his daughter's college applications.
• He is now focusing on strengthening his AI skills through a hobby project, prioritizing health, and applying for head of engineering roles.