In this conversational testimonial, Carl shares how Lynne Levy’s Momentum program helped him recover from burnout after a layoff and transition toward head‑of‑product roles. He describes his initial focus on lateral moves for work‑life balance, then explains how the program’s SCARF framework and executive‑presence training reshaped his mindset, calendar habits, and leadership style. Carl highlights concrete actions—setting stricter meeting boundaries, coaching teammates, and using LinkedIn outreach instead of blind applications—that led to quicker interview opportunities. He reports positive 360° feedback from his reports, a calmer presence, and a more humane interview experience he now aims to replicate. Carl expresses gratitude, noting the only regret is not discovering the program earlier, and affirms the Momentum program as essential for his next career phase.
Chapters
You feel like you're destined for more.
Yep.
What does that mean?
So, I mean, to be honest, like when, when I first started the program, I was just looking at lateral, like lateral shifts or even maybe a little lateral minus a little bit shift into another organization. Uh, just because I was to the point where I just wanted work-life balance more than anything. And I now, like, all the positions I'm looking for would be the head of product role. And those are all the positions I've been interviewing for lately. You know, I've kind of come to the terms that a job's a job, like it doesn't define me. And, you know, there's, there's lots out there. So if this doesn't work out, then there's other, there's other opportunities. And I haven't blindly applied for any job. At all. Um, I've very much been going after contacts through LinkedIn. That's the way to do it. And I'm trying not to just blindly apply to anything. If I have a contact there, reaching out to them on LinkedIn saying, hey, I saw this is out there, can we, can we talk for 5 minutes just so I can understand what you're looking for? Um, and that seems to be working pretty well. Like, for the most part, I've been able to get responses. I just want to thank, thank you for putting this program together. Like, this was a This was a lifesaver for me.
So, oh, that is so sweet. What, what were your, what were your favorite parts of the program?
Um, to be honest, like SCARF was 100%, uh, applicable and something that I used that day after having the initial training, like, um, and then the discussions around executive presence and, um, Yeah, all that's been a game changer. Like, those two things are what most people have been like, like, what's going on? Like, you, you're changing, man. It's for the good.
People saw the change in you. Yes. How about that elusive work-life balance? Tell me a little bit about that. How did that change?
It's awesome now. Like, I just, I mean, getting, getting laid off and getting 3 and a half months notice for my layoff was part of that, um, but it's also just helped me realize, like, Really work-life balance is up to me. Like I can control that. And, um, it doesn't really matter what, you know, like what pressures are coming from work. You know, there's always, the work's always gonna be there no matter what. And it's up to me to prioritize what's important to me.
Look at you go.
Yeah. I mean, a lot of it, I knew this, I just was in that like fight or flight. Fight or flight mode so much. It's like I just wasn't even thinking straight.
Right. And when you're in fight or flight mode, I mean, you get the franticness, the overwhelm.
Oh yeah. And then I was like just to the point where I was like in meetings 8 hours a day and I was just mentally exhausted and it just like that repeated cycle and it just never was getting better. So I mean, I even prioritized my calendar has been a huge benefit and not accepting every meeting and saying like, do you really need me there? If you don't need me there, or you want me to provide some input after the fact, let me know, but you got this, right?
You've got this. You don't need to spend an hour for 30 seconds of input.
Yeah, exactly. So I've been trying to coach some of my co— my coworkers, which I'm hoping to send her away in the near future. Um, but it's just the matter of just getting, you know, just getting sane again is like worth more than anything. It's worth, it's worth it.
My gosh. Getting— so one of the biggest benefits I just heard is getting sane.
Yeah, it's a big deal. Yeah, it is. It's a huge deal. And it didn't take long. Like, honestly, I was, I was to that point within 3 weeks of the program, like jumping into the program. And it was just, it was just, it was almost like, you know, when you're talking about Having those moments where, um, that quiet time moments, it was like I started to prioritize like that type of stuff and it just like snapped me out of just the fight or flight all the time.
Hashtag awesome.
The Momentum program, at least for right now until I land, sounds exactly what I need.
I'm so glad you decided to join. And if you need anything, I'm here.
Yep.
And otherwise we'll see you in the Momentum program, my friend.
Awesome. Yeah, I just, I just wanna tell you thank you. I am very welcome. It's been amazing.
You're so very welcome. It's the program is everything I, I needed a long time ago that I put together.
Yeah. I just, the only, only regret is I didn't do it. Like I didn't do it earlier. Like I didn't find it early. I didn't seek out help earlier. That's my only regret. Um, because it would've changed, probably would've changed so much for me. Cause I just realized that I was just stuck in a rut and I was just sitting like almost like decaying in my role.
Oh, decaying in your role. Yeah, but look at you now. You're like, I'm only gonna take the right role and I'm gonna level up.
Yep. Yeah, yeah. And I like— yeah, it's been interesting because like no matter the size of the company, like all the positions I've been looking at— well, except for one. There was one I looked at that would have been more of a lateral move, but it's mostly because I had a referral, could get an easy interview. so I could get some practice. But, yeah, like most of them have been where, or at least the ones that I've had up until now lately have been all like head of product roles, but they're small companies, which is, I feel like a safe place for me to kind of build my, my experience in brand in that type of position and not always having like somebody above me, you know, ultimately leading that direction. So.
I'm curious, did your employees who report to you see a difference in you?
Yes.
Really? What did they see?
They just saw that. They just saw that I was like more centered and calm and not like— and I mean, they said that I've always been kind of like this all the time. You know, I get that feedback all the time from them. But yeah, I mean, I don't know. This has been a good experience. I mean, even just going through this layoff, like people have come out of the Woodworks. I mean, my people on my team have you know, they wrote out like all these things that they just really appreciated about my leadership style. And I didn't prompt them for this, but they wrote it out and gave it to me. And then I know they all responded on my 360 feedback. So it's been good.
You're ready for the next phase.
Interestingly, I talked to a former PM that she left our company and went somewhere else, and she came to Salt Lake City recently and she met up with me and another director and she said that the interview experience she had with us was like the most unique experience that she's ever had because she felt like— she's like, it didn't even feel like an interview. And she's like, as I reflected back on it, I realized that you were actually getting all the information you needed, but it didn't— like, it felt comfortable and it felt— I was like, that's a really— I really appreciated her telling me that because that's the type of interviews that I want to have. I want people to feel comfortable because when I understand their potential—
Oh my gosh. See, that's, that's what interviewing should be about. You've got this and we'll see you. Thanks, Carl.
