The Breakdown That Became My Breakthrough – Part 2
The Setup That Looked Like Support
You ever be so blindsided you question if you even heard right?
Like the words hit you, but your brain is still buffering—stuck on a loop because it doesn’t make sense.
That’s what they did to me.
They made me walk into a room prepared to deliver excellence, knowing damn well they were already moving me out the way.
They set me up. And they did it so smoothly, I almost gaslit myself into thinking I’d imagined the whole thing.
The Fake Collaboration
It started with encouragement.
The kind they dress up as opportunity but use to keep you in line.
I had just been promoted.
Handed a team that had been leaderless for seven months. I was rebuilding from the ground up.
Breaking down silos. Creating systems. Establishing KPIs. Rebuilding relationships with stakeholders who had been straight-up ignored.
I was handling business. Making sure their numbers looked good. Making sure their clients stayed happy.
They knew I could deliver. Hell, they were banking on it.
Then, out of nowhere, I’m being told to align with my peer.
Another woman in the same role but serving a different client group.
Their sell?
“It’s a big opportunity. We want to unite your strategies for the first time ever across the service line.”
They made it sound like elevation. Like I was being given real influence and visibility.
But looking back, it was just the first step in the setup.
The Trap Disguised as Partnership
So, I did what they asked.
I reached out. Connected with her. Played the part.
Weeks of working together.
Comparing notes. Sharing insights. Conducting SWOT analysis sessions. Building “our” strategy presentation for executive leadership.
She handled the data compiling. I leaned in heavy on strategy, because that’s my strength.
And for a moment, it felt like we were actually building something real.
But what I didn’t know was…
They weren’t looking for collaboration. They were looking for consolidation.
They wanted me to hand over everything I built so they could package it up and hand it to her.
The Bomb They Dropped Before My Presentation
This is the part that still twists my stomach.
The day of my big strategy presentation.
The one I had poured myself into for weeks.
The one that was supposed to solidify everything I’d been building.
We were sitting in the lounge area during a short break before the meeting, making small talk, checking notes.
I was in go mode. Focused, prepared, ready to walk into that room and deliver brilliance.
Then my Director called me over.
A Black man. Someone I trusted to have my back.
But his face was unreadable. His voice had that too-calm tone people use when they know they’re about to break you.
“Hey Yana, let’s do a quick check-in.”
He motioned for me to sit down. Not in an office, not in a private space. Just out in the open like it was a casual conversation.
Then he hit me with it.
“There’s been a restructure.”
“You’ll be reporting to someone else moving forward.”
“Your ‘peer’ will be your new manager.”
Just like that.
Like he was giving me the weather forecast.
Like my entire career hadn’t just been ripped from under me.
I couldn’t even process it. I just stared at him. Trying to catch my breath. Trying to understand what the hell he just said.
And before I could respond, he kept going—
“We have to tell the team today because the news will be rolling out next week.”
Hold up. So you’re telling me…
You knew.
She knew.
Leadership knew.
And you waited until minutes before I was supposed to present my own strategy to drop this on me?
The same strategy they were already planning to hand off to someone else?
I was supposed to walk into that room, like everything was fine, and smile through my own betrayal.
Presenting While Knowing The Truth
But I did it.
Because that’s what I do.
I walked into that room and delivered the presentation like a damn professional.
Straightened my back. Smiled when I needed to. Delivered brilliance to people who had already decided my fate.
People who were nodding along and pretending to listen, knowing they were about to replace me with my own work.
The kicker?
The person who was about to be my boss? She wasn’t even there.
Wasn’t even part of the presentation. Because why would she need to be?
The blueprint was already laid out—by me.
They just needed me to gift wrap it.
The Gaslighting Dressed Up As Gratitude
After the presentation, my Director pulled me aside like he was doing me a favor.
“Great job, Yana. You’re such a professional.”
“We appreciate your leadership.”
“You handled that presentation so well.”
Words that felt like knives.
Because the whole time, they already knew I was being replaced.
They had me walk into a room to present a strategy they had no intention of letting me lead.
It wasn’t encouragement. It was exploitation.
It wasn’t support. It was sabotage.
They never intended for me to own my brilliance. They just wanted to use it.
Your Moment of Reflection
Sis, take a moment to check in with yourself.
Ask yourself:
Who’s benefiting from my brilliance?
Am I being praised to keep me producing, but never truly valued?
Am I building something real, or just expected to hand over what I create?
Write it down. Be real with yourself. And if you feel something’s off? It probably is.
Up Next:
Part 3 – Loyalty Was Killing Me Softly
Because I was breaking myself to save people who would leave me bleeding.
Also, if you’re new here, feel free to hear more of my storytelling, secrets, and strategies on my podcast: Exit to Next It — The Journey to Legacy. Listen and subscribe below.
💭 Sis, if this hit you where it hurts—drop a comment. Share your truth.
Or just whisper to yourself: “I’m done giving away what’s mine.”