The Essential Professional
Laureen KnudsenPractical frameworks and honest insights for mid-career professionals navigating disruption, layoffs, and the future of work.
| Platform |  | Pricing | Only free issues | Publishes | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issues | 19 | Founded | 4 months ago | Last Issue | 8 days ago |
| Active | |||||
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laureenknudsen.substack.comLatest Issues
AI May Not Be Threatening Your Job, But It May Have Changed Where Your Value Is Needed
In October 2025 alone, U.S. employers announced more than 153,000 job cuts. AI was cited as a factor behind only 31% of those reductions, and cost cutting, restructuring, economic conditions, and other pressures were responsible for many mo...
You don't have to turn everything you're good at into a career
Years ago, I decided to try flower arranging. I enjoyed the creativity of it, and eventually I did the flowers for family weddings and celebrations. I loved being able to do something special for those I care about, and I was good at it.
I...
Your Company Is Preparing You For Today's Job. Not Tomorrow's.
A new report from The Conference Board looked at how organizations are actually investing in AI training, based on interviews with 35 enterprise leaders and a survey of nearly 1,300 workers. The finding: most companies are focused on helpin...
Your Resume Is Looking Backward. Your Career Can't Afford To.
If you’re part of recent layoffs, the first thing you might be inclined to do is update your resume, refresh LinkedIn, and turn on the “Open to Work” banner. We’ve been taught that’s where a job search begins.
The problem is that the momen...
When someone truly understands your work . . .
One thing I wanted to share with this community...
Forbes Technology Council recently included Becoming Essential: The Proven Plan to Reinvent Your Career in the Age of Disruption in its Executive Library.
What meant the most to me wasn’t...
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| Subscribers | Engagement | 66 | Monthly Web Visits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accepts Sponsors | Estimated Cost per Ad | ||||
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Authors
The writers behind this newsletter.
When AI rewrites your job, professional identity is what remains. I write weekly for people figuring out who they are without their title, and organizations helping their workforce through the same question.
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