Amid the last-minute tax-filing frenzy this Tax Day, Internal Revenue Service workers' stress levels are higher than normal, since many expect to find out "soon" whether they'll be laid off as part of the Trump administration's reduction-in-force plans, CNN reports, citing anonymous sources. Individual decisions are expected by the end of the week. The administration has said it plans to slash up to 20% of the IRS workforce by May 15, which would amount to roughly 20,000 jobs.
Tax Day is an annual source of anxiety for millions of Americans. Still, it is also a great opportunity to reflect on the moments in our lives when we reached a goal or milestone by overcoming anxiety or fear.
That’s exactly how my career in finance got started.
After graduating from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo with a degree in economics, I applied to roughly 20 Wall Street firms and received letters back from every one of them thanking me for my interest, but zero invitations for an interview. Despite that inauspicious start, I kept going, convincing myself that “I totally got this” until my perseverance paid off and I got an opportunity to prove that I belonged.
Now I’m the CIO of Nuveen, a TIAA company, a top-20 global asset manager, and the lessons I learned about overcoming adversity by having the right mindset have helped me achieve several personal and professional goals since then.
A career in finance is something that can and should be open to anyone with a passion for it and a determination to succeed. Those of us in a position to do so can make this a reality by investing in others and expanding our industry’s recruiting programs to include a broader array of educational experiences while also considering candidates with backgrounds that break away from certain stereotypes.
This year, April 15th isn't just about taxes. It also happens to be “I Totally Got This Day”, which I think fits perfectly, as we can also help young people develop the right mindset to succeed, and remind them that “You totally got this!”
Thousands of IRS employees have been laid off MID-TAX SEASON. Whether you're a taxpayer, still on the job, or one of the many let go, you're feeling the impact. There are key business lessons from all of this.
I’ve made tough headcount decisions in business.
And I’ve been the one impacted by them, too.
So when I see this happening at a national level, I can’t help but zoom out:
👉 This isn’t just a government headline—it’s a CX case study every business leader must pay attention to.
Because when critical systems are cut without planning for service continuity, the consequences appear fast and far beyond the org chart.
𝗧𝗮𝘅𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀:
Can’t get answers
Facing long delays
Frustrated by systems that feel broken
𝗜𝗥𝗦 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗯:
Carrying more cases than they can manage
Working faster, not smarter—because there’s no other option
Stressed, burned out, exhausted
𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗴𝗼:
Left without stability
Cut loose at the busiest time
Watching the system struggle without them
Yes, this is a government headline.
(i.e. CNN article: https://lnkd.in/eDCfUgcE)
But no—this is NOT a political post. 🚫
It’s a real-world reminder:
👉 Operational decisions that ignore the customer journey will eventually become customer problems.
In government, customers may not have a choice.
But in business? They do—and they walk away without saying a word.
If you’re not mapping how internal decisions affect the external experience, you're not just cutting costs—you're creating churn.