Layoffs Aren't the Problem. Employment Strategy Is. — with Brea Starmer

About this episode

Brea Starmer discusses her journey from being laid off during pregnancy to founding a company that supports independent workers and reshapes workforce planning.

Brea Starmer helped build the future of work out of necessity. As founder of Lions and Tigers, she's unlocking millions in economic opportunity for independent workers, particularly women navigating caregiving responsibilities. When Brea was laid off seven months pregnant, facing workplace discrimination, and having to choose between career ambition and family flexibility, she discovered that the traditional employment system simply wasn't designed for people like her. What started as personal survival—self-funding her own maternity leave by billing 60 hours a week for 13 weeks—evolved into a movement reshaping how enterprises think about workforce planning. Brea's vision of "no more layoffs" is a practical blueprint for using blended teams of employees and independent workers to build more resilient, flexible organizations that can adapt to rapid change without devastating human costs. You'll Learn: How workplace discrimination during pregnancy led to building a multi-million dollar company serving independent workers Why an "everything's a project" mindset creates more security than traditional employment in today's economy The critical first question to ask when transitioning…

People in this episode

Host: Paul Estes

Guest: Brea Starmer

Topics covered

• employment strategy
• independent workers
• workplace discrimination
• flexible organizations
• resilient workforce

Keywords

• layoffs
• employment strategy
• independent work
• workplace discrimination
• flexibility
• economic opportunity
• caregiving

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Lions and Tigers

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