Today, I heard some disheartening news: ApplyBoard has let go of more than 150 people this week. My heart goes to all of my colleagues who work in ApplyBoard and those who have been affected. I would always acknowledge that ApplyBoard played a pivotal role in launching my career in this industry..
And if you’ve been following these developments, the relentless cycle of global downsizing wears on you. If you’ve been directly affected, words can’t capture the depth of turmoil you’re experiencing.
We’re seeing it everywhere:
- Microsoft let go of 6,000 employees last month—and another 300 this week.
- Panasonic is shedding 10,000 jobs.
- Google has released a slate of 1,000 new features that could render years of work and countless emerging startups obsolete overnight.
- What else? Keep it coming! Grrrr 😖
Let me say it if you don’t want to: THIS IS REALLY SCARY. Even as an entrepreneur, with no boss forcing me out the door, I have profound anxiety; I keep thinking about this every day of my life probably until I am able to discover the hidden secret of the legends. If I fail to achieve the milestones I’ve set, I’ll be faced with the wrenching decision of letting talented people on my team go. It’s a constant reminder that we’ve entered an era of uncertainty regardless of how advanced our technology becomes.
Is it okay to acknowledge fear? Absolutely. Fear is real and it’s valid. But it’s also the starting point for transformation. Whenever I feel the weight of this anxiety, I ask myself: “How do I think bigger?”.
Customer obsession used to be enough to build great products. But in a world where a massive platform can copy or replace your entire roadmap in a week, that’s no longer sufficient. Or in a world where AI is always on your a** trying to replace you, you will have nowhere to go. We have to keep moving forward though… all while dodging bullets coming at us from every direction. That daily confusion adds to the question: “Will we make it?”
The answer is, I guess, in how we choose to respond. These are some principles I currently think about:
Be more human
Build products that strengthen human connections and relationships. Automation and AI will streamline many tasks, but that only makes genuine human interaction more precious. If your solution amplifies human-to-human bonds whether through collaboration tools or community-driven platforms—you’ll create value that can’t be easily replicated by a large tech giant.
Imagine more
Your ability to think critically and predict tomorrow’s challenges remains superior to any AI model. Everything is at our fingertips—so ask the right questions, stay curious about human complexity, and don’t stop exploring. The moment you rely solely on data or algorithms without applying human judgment, you lose your competitive edge.
Get more friends
Rather than chasing surface-level clout (that you think matters more than everything) that won’t land you in Forbes or CNN (anyway), invest your energy in building genuine relationships and expanding your professional network. What truly matters is connecting with people who understand your expertise and can leverage it to grow their businesses.
Learn more, be more
Treat yourself as if you’re constantly searching for a product–market fit: take on a side hustle, explore new niches, and never stop learning. When the going gets tough, this diverse experience becomes the safety net that catches you and shows partners and clients you’re adaptable, resourceful, and ready for whatever comes next.
Have fun, always
If you lose, at least you can say you enjoyed the ride. And nobody can take that away from you. When adrenaline is pumping and stakes are high, it’s easy to forget that our work should energize us, not drain us. Cultivating joy and camaraderie within your team is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline.
Will we make it? I believe we will—if we harness fear as fuel, not as a roadblock. In this age of uncertainty, our resilience depends on staying human, staying curious, and never losing sight of the fun that brought us here in the first place.
The skills identified by the World Economic Forum still hold true but your ingenuity to respond to the challenges today will eventually define if you will end up a winner.
***
We’re hiring by the way: send your CVs to team (at) studyinasia.co
Written by: Rodel Sta Ana - CEO of Study in Asia