#349 Benedikt Oehmen: Layoffs, Level-Ups, and the ‘Big Three’ for Starting Over

What happens when the dream job turns into a corporate casualty?

Benedikt Oehmen spent nearly two decades at Blizzard—first as a support staffer, then a beloved team leader—only to watch the company’s gamer-first culture erode after its merger with Activision. When layoffs came, it wasn’t just a paycheck he lost. It was identity, community, and certainty.

But Benedikt didn’t stay stuck. He pivoted from game development to career redevelopment—first coaching his own team through grief and transition, then launching a business to guide others through the same. 

In this episode, he shares his powerful “Big Three” framework—Be Kind, Be Present, Be Open—along with practical tools for anyone facing layoffs, career upheaval, or a post-corporate identity crisis. It’s not just theory—it’s lived wisdom from someone who’s been there.

Key Highlights of Our Interview:

Blizzard Beginnings: From Physics to Warcraft

“I took a semester off physics to try working at Blizzard… 17 years later, I was still there.”

When Work Feels Like Family—Until It Doesn’t

“It wasn’t just a job. We played together, worked together, partied together. And then came the layoffs.”

Culture Clash: When Epic Games Turn Into Earnings Reports

“After the Activision merger, all we heard was: how do we make more money?”

Career Plot Twist: Coaching Instead of Collapsing

“I stayed to help my team transition. That’s when I discovered coaching—and myself.”

No More Overlords: Why He Chose Life After Layoffs

“I didn’t want to keep making rich people richer. I wanted to help geeks like me take back control.”

The Big Three: A Framework for Reinvention

Be Kind. Be Present. Be Open. Simple words, real results.

Mistakes = Learning in Disguise

“Writing a book felt impossible—until I reframed it. Not ‘write a book.’ Just ‘become a person who writes daily.’”

From Grief to Growth: Why Change Can Still Be Kind

“It’s okay to mourn the past. But if you listen to your future self, you’ll start moving again.”

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Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Benedikt Oehmen
 

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