Nine years at Google. Thousands of meetings. Hundreds of conference rooms.

But I can still feel the carpet under my feet in that one particular room. The one where, early in my Google career, I learned that crushing numbers means nothing if you're invisible to the people who matter.

Last week, as I documented my final walk through those halls, I paused at that door. Touched it. And whispered "thank you."

Because what happened in that room didn't break me. It broke me open.

Picture this: I'm three years into Google. Finally hitting my stride after the chaos of multiple reorgs. Our segment's numbers are struggling, breaking into greenfield accounts feels like pushing water uphill. But I've got our biggest prospect in the building. A major manufacturer. The deal that could turn our quarter around.

My new manager, less than 90 days in the role, calls me for a "quick sync."

I'm thinking tactics. Strategy. Maybe even recognition for landing this whale of a meeting.

I walk in to find HR waiting.

I go numb. Completely checked out. Because here's the thing about being blindsided, your body leaves the room even when you can't.

Then my manager leans forward: "So, now tell us exactly how you're planning to close this manufacturer deal. Walk us through your strategy."

I almost laugh. Almost.

They've just torched my performance review, and now they want me to hand them the keys to our biggest opportunity?

The old Lilah, the one who believed hard work spoke for itself, died in that moment.

I delivered that strategy. Crushed the presentation. They thought I was passionate. The truth? I was calculating.

Calculating how I'd let this happen. How I'd gotten so focused on external customers that I'd forgotten my internal ones. How I'd stopped managing up after my third manager change in two years.

I'd gotten lazy about the game. And in corporate, the game is half the job.

That NI wasn't about my performance. It was about my politics. My visibility. My failure to market myself internally while I was busy marketing Google externally.

Here's what most people would have done: Rage quit. Update LinkedIn. Burn bridges on the way out.

Here's what I did instead: I got strategic.

So when I walked out of Google last week, six years after that NI, nine years after I walked in, I wasn't running from failure. I was graduating with honors.

That conference room didn't break me. It broke my naivety. It broke my dependence on a single path. It broke my belief that excellence alone was enough.

In breaking those things, it built everything else.

That NI taught me the most valuable lesson of my career: Never give anyone or anything complete control over your future.

While I was rebuilding internally at Google, I was building externally for myself. Not as a backup plan. As a parallel plan. Because in 2025's workplace, where 54% are quietly cracking and companies are cutting benefits, multiple paths aren't optional. They're survival.

Nine years ago, I walked into Google ready to change the world. Three years in, a conference room almost broke me. Six years later, I walked out on my own terms, with skills, wealth, and options that room forced me to build.

Your conference room is waiting. The question is: Will you let it break you, or break you open?

If you're ready to build your parallel paths, I offer three ways to work with me:

🔥 "The Activation Tax Calculator" (Week of Oct 20-24)
What's comfort really costing you? Learn to quantify the hidden costs of staying put so you can make decisions based on data, not fear.

💡 "Permission Slips Are for Kindergarten" (Week of Oct 27-31)
Stop waiting for approval. Master the art of strategic self-authorization while building visibility and managing up without selling out.

⚡ "From Breaking Point to Breakthrough" (Week of Oct Nov 3-7)
Turn your conference room moment into your catalyst. Learn to read the signals before the blindside and build multiple revenue streams while employed.

1:1 Executive Coaching:
For leaders navigating career transitions, building executive presence, or developing their parallel path strategy. Limited spots available.

Speaking & Workshops:
I deliver keynotes and workshops on activated leadership, managing up, and building career resilience for corporate teams and conferences.

Want to explore which option is right for you?

Every leader hits the same wall: too many priorities, not enough bandwidth. Wing clears that wall with a full-time virtual assistant who runs the drag layer so you lead, not chase.

This isn’t gig work. It’s dedicated support that shows up every day and allows founders to delegate without losing control.

Clear your plate