Greetings, SVBBDev - BlackBerry App Developers!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-navigate-the-layoff-journey-tickets-1671127831329?aff=ideatoipo

A layoff isn’t just the loss of a paycheck; it’s the loss of stability, identity, and routine. It’s a deeply personal upheaval, one that triggers the same emotional responses as other major life transitions. In The Layoff Journey From Dismissal to Discovery: Navigating the Stages of Grief After a Job Loss, seasoned executive Steve Jaffe—who has navigated the emotional and practical challenges of career transitions firsthand—guides readers through the seven stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, reconstruction, and renewal. This book offers a roadmap to navigate the emotional terrain of job loss with clarity and purpose.

Drawing on personal stories, real-world examples, and actionable insights, Jaffe shares how the transformative power of intentionality can help readers reclaim control over their journey. Each chapter delves into a specific stage of grief, providing practical strategies for moving forward, whether it’s learning how to process feelings of inadequacy, harnessing anger to fuel action, or discovering your “why” to shape a meaningful next chapter.

Through relatable stories and helpful exercises, this book offers inspiration for reframing setbacks as opportunities for growth. Whether readers are seeking to rebuild their careers, pivot to a new path, or simply regain their footing, The Layoff Journey equips them with the tools to emerge stronger, more focused, and ready to thrive.

With a blend of empathy, encouragement, and empowerment, The Layoff Journey transforms what feels like an ending into an invitation to craft a new beginning—one shaped by resilience, self-reflection, and discovery.

Attendees will learn:

• How to walk away with a new perspective on layoffs — understanding why the hardest part isn’t just losing a job, but navigating the emotional impact, and how to move through the stages of grief with clarity
• How to gain practical strategies to rebuild confidence and identity — tools to separate self-worth from job titles, overcome self-doubt, and reclaim your career capital.
• A framework for resilience and renewal — a roadmap to turn job loss into a launchpad, rebuild connections, and create a stronger, more intentional next chapter.

Join us today and let's navigate what's next, together.

Born and raised in sunny San Diego, Steve began his writing journey at San Diego State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communication. After a 25-year career in advertising and marketing—including work on the iconic “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas” advertising campaign—he has returned to his writing roots. Throughout his career, Steve has built a reputation for creativity, strategic insight, and a deep understanding of human experiences. These qualities shape his approach to both his work and life, infusing his writing with authenticity, empathy, and a genuine desire to connect with others.

Steve resides in Altadena, California, with his wife, two children, and a perpetually shedding dog. When he’s not writing or consulting as a marketing expert, you can find him chasing waves along the coast or carving fresh powder on the slopes—always seeking balance and adventure in his professional and personal life. Steve’s journey continues to be a testament to resilience, innovation, and the belief that sharing authentic experiences can inspire growth and lead to a deeper understanding of who we truly are.

Connect with Steve at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaffesteve/.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-strategize-and-execute-your-job-search-with-chatgpt-in-one-hour-tickets-1717314526979?aff=ideatoipo

Most people take weeks or even months to organize their job search. In the AI era, the market moves so fast that by the time you’ve figured out your plan, everything has changed—and you’re stuck pivoting again. The result? Job seekers are always chasing the market instead of leading it.
It doesn’t have to be this way.

AI isn’t just for recruiters and hiring managers—it’s for you too. If you’re stuck figuring out where to start, how to build a strategy, or just want to get back into the market faster, this one-hour webinar is your solution.
Using ChatGPT, you’ll learn how to plan, organize, and execute your job search with clarity and speed—without the burnout—with a real resume and LinkedIn profile from a peer.

This isn’t about quick answers from AI. It’s about using ChatGPT as a thinking partner to help you take control and move forward confidently.

### We'll cover how you can use ChatGPT to:

• Serve as your personalized career advisor with your existing resume and LinkedIn profile.
• Act as an accountability partner for your job search, including with daily tasks.
• Edit your resume and LinkedIn so it can be more visible, including tailored for individual job listings.
• Identify where you need more experience or education so you can become a better candidate.
• Develop a company application strategy, including reading the trends and seeing what's hot and what's not.
• Improve your interviewing, including creating interview answers and as a mock interviewer.
• Build your personal brand in your voice.
• And much more!

### What you’ll walk away with:

• A repeatable system for job searching in 2025
• Custom ChatGPT prompts you can use immediately to: Organize your thoughts into a clear strategy, create compelling, tailored content for every stage of the process, prepare with confidence for networking and interviews

Finally, this session will be recorded. If you sign up and cannot make it, a recording will be sent to you.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/silicon-valley-networking-mixer-tickets-1717901071349?aff=oddtdtcreator&discount=IDEATOIPO

Reserve your spot to experience Colibri Pottery Studio, Silicon Valley's hottest art studio. Network, socialize, and connect with other Silicon Valley professionals and take an opportunity to create your next piece of kiln-fired art. Sign up early, as this venue has limited capacity.

Kick off your Fall with a networking event in a unique venue. We bring people together on a regular basis to meet face-to-face through regular mixers. Join us for food, drinks, and conversation with Bay Area professionals in Silicon Valley. Our events frequently bring 50-100 attendees who work at startups and companies including Salesforce, Amazon, Zillow, Rakuten, Google, Apple, Facebook, Twitter, Airbnb, Charles Schwab, McKesson Corporation, Gap Inc., Walmart, Samsung, Dignity Health, Fitbit, Visa, Genentech, Levi Strauss & Co., Williams-Sonoma, Sephora, and Gilead Sciences.

We’re Making Networking Easy
Get ready to connect with like-minded professionals, make valuable business connections, and potentially find your next great career opportunity!

Our main objective is to provide a unique setting for attendees to forge meaningful relationships, collaborate on innovative ideas, and share valuable knowledge. We remain committed to fostering high caliber connections and encouraging professional development. You will meet working professionals, innovators, startups, and business leaders who provide a golden opportunity to broaden your professional horizon and meet like-minded individuals who are shaping the future of work.

Who should attend: Working professionals with 0-10+ years of experience from all industries, including Tech, Finance, Biotech, Retail, Government, Professional Services, Arts and Culture, and Education, are welcome to attend. This event is ideal for individuals who are looking to meet like-minded professionals, share their experiences, gain valuable insights, collaborate and explore new opportunities.

This event represents a significant opportunity for dedicated networking. While some attending companies are actively hiring, it is critical to understand that this is not a conventional job fair or recruitment event. There will be no usual keynotes, panels, and presentations. Our primary objective is to facilitate the creation of impactful and enduring professional relationships.

Be sure to bring your LinkedIn QR code or Business Cards and be ready to introduce yourself and make awesome connections with people across all industries.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-land-a-software-engineering-job-in-just-3-weeks-with-ai-tickets-1717369320869?aff=ideatoipo

It's a tough market for software engineers right now, with fewer open roles. Hiring managers have their pick of candidates, and standing out is harder than ever. Companies are also taking the industry in a different direction, choosing to use artificial intelligence or hire abroad since both are cheaper. Educational attainment also matters, with bootcamp graduates most sidelined as hiring managers view curriculums as incomplete and generic.

Despite the doom and gloom, those with the right strategies can still find opportunities in an uncertain market including the usage of AI. Join software engineer and career coach Phong Lam for an educational session where he'll share how he landed his latest job in August 2025 in just 3 weeks with the help of AI, despite being a bootcamp graduate.

You will learn:

• Why the software engineering market has become so uncertain.
• Where the opportunities lie in software engineering today.
• How software engineers can master the interview process, including identifying the patterns in questions, versus doing hours of leetcode, overcome the ambiguity of. interviews, and prepare.
• What software engineering candidates can do to stand out, including building their personal brand, position their experience, or look for new roles.
• What bootcamp graduates can do to go beyond what they've learned in their programs and become hireable software engineers.
• How software engineers can use AI in their job search to get opportunities faster.
• And much more!

Come with your questions and scenarios!

ABOUT PHONG LAM
Phong Lam is a senior software engineer currently working in the blockchain industry with past stops at Doordash, Walmart, and IBM. In addition to his career, he also mentors junior and senior level engineers, guiding them on how to solve algorithmic problems, understand web frameworks, and navigate interviews.