Ep. 18: My Betrayal of Self

Finding Forgiveness; a Family Fairy Tale

Today, we delve into the painful yet transformative topic of betrayal. Betrayal wounds deeply, but it can also be the spark that ignites healing and forgiveness. I will share my most profound betrayal: being ousted from the inner circle at work, which ultimately led to the loss of my long-term job. We've all experienced betrayal at some point, and many of us have been the betrayers, too. If this strikes a chord with you, tune into this episode of Finding Forgiveness: A Family Fairy Tale.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [0:35] Susan reveals her biggest betrayal from the founder of the company she worked for: Betrayal One

• [4:59] Susan discusses how she betrayed the founder: Betrayal Two

• [9:31] How Susan betrayed herself: Betrayal Three.

• [10:00] Susan reflects on what she learned from these three betrayals

• [16:46] Susan describes the fallout

• [22:53] Susan dives into the betrayal of herself and her inner struggle

• [26:34] Susan takes action and would love to hear from her listeners’

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• When a betrayal at work occurs, it is a daily remembrance of what happened, causing tension and a lack of trust.

• Often, co-workers deny support to someone when they know the truth but do not want to jeopardize their own position or standing.

• The takeaway is to be transparent. Be above board. Stand firm in your truth.

QUOTES:

“Those in the room were all speechless. This person from the primary consultancy looked at me and asked if this was true. I said no, none of it was true. The crack became a chasm. It was only a matter of time before I was terminated. Before I could resign, I was fired. All of my work friends scattered. No one returned my calls or emails. I was utterly alone.” Susan Gibson

“Betrayal number three: Me to myself. I learned throughout this experience that I'd been betraying myself all along. I was not staying true to who I was deep down inside. I had buried that person so deep inside of me that I didn't even know who she was. Once everything stopped around me and I could listen to my inner voice, I started rediscovering who I was and who I really am. Even though these betrayals deeply hurt me, I also felt a sense of liberation as I started this self-discovery journey. It was no time to retreat.” Susan Gibson

RESOURCES:

Susan Gibson - Email

ABOUT THE HOST:

Susan Gibson grew up in a small town in Northern Maine, the only surviving child of parents who married young and divorced young. From the influence of their shared experiences, Susan has learned two things that are core to who she is: the value of community and the power of having a voice.

Susan has spent her entire academic and professional career as a woman in tech, starting her career as a developer in the mid-80s to today, where she is CEO of Temenos+Agility, a management consulting company she co-founded with her partner, Siraj Sirajuddin, where they help enterprises transform organizationally and personally, to find a more meaningful way to deliver value to their customers.

Susan frequently contributes to the Women in Tech (WiT) Regatta and speaks worldwide at public and private events. She uses her voice to grow communities of women, mentors and allies in tech.

Susan has many lifelong pursuits: healthy eating, fitness, yoga and meditation, music, theater, opera, reading, movies, travel, family and friends. She is also rebuilding her family’s 110-year-old homestead in Northern Maine, a true labor of love.