Career Stress Got You Ready to Crash Out?

THIS ISSUE AT A GLANCE

• The pressure is getting worser (and it’s not just you) → A real-talk breakdown of layoffs, DEI rollbacks, and why women are getting hit first.

• Highest-paying tech roles to aim for → A quick list of where the money actually is so you can plan your next move with intention.

• CreateHER win of the week → Our co-founders were named among Unstoppable Women of Web3 & AI’s Most Inspirational Women—and what that says about you and this community.

• MeetHER in AR → A cozy, low-pressure metaverse meetup that takes the work out of networking.

• Resource Drop 📚 → Layoff support with Torc’s Laid Off Lounge, an entry-level-friendly UX role at YouTube, a scholarship for single moms in school, Art Basel perks, and an AI House @ CES meetup for women in emerging tech!

When the Pressure Gets Worser: Protecting Your Career in a Messy Market

If it feels like every week brings a new round of tech layoffs, you’re not imagining it—and women are absorbing more of the fallout than anyone likes to admit. Recent analyses show women in tech are up to 65% more likely to be laid off than men, in part because roles like HR, recruiting, and marketing (where women are overrepresented) have been cut the hardest. Half of women who make it into tech leave by 35, often citing burnout, stalled growth, and cultures that weren’t built with them in mind.

Zooming in makes the picture even sharper: the latest U.S. jobs report found nearly 700,000 women are missing from the workforce since the pandemic, and unemployment for Black women has spiked to about 7.5%—roughly 70% higher than the overall rate. Gender economist Katica Roy calls it what it is: not a slowdown, but a “redistribution of opportunity,” where women are pushed out even as men gain jobs. Black women sit at the intersection of gender and race, so their job losses show up first—but they’re a warning sign for every woman in this industry.

Our Take

DEI budgets and titles might be disappearing from org charts, but the need for fair workplaces, livable pay, and real progression hasn’t gone anywhere. For women across tech, the question is the same: how do you protect your career when the systems that were supposed to support you are wobbling?

We’re approaching this in three ways for our community this season:

• Know your worth with real data. We pulled together a list of some of the highest-paying roles in tech right now—not just FAANG fantasies, but roles women in this community can realistically step into with the right skills and support. Use it as a reality check and a vision board: what you’re making today vs. what’s possible next.

  See the list →

• Skill up for the jobs that pay. If that list feels out of reach, that’s exactly what #75HER is for. Over 75 days, you’ll learn in-demand skills, build a portfolio-ready project, and get support from peers and mentors so you’re not just reading about high-paying roles—you’re getting ready to apply for them.

  Register for 75HER →

• Plug into a community that’s actually hiring. We’re also putting you onto Torc.dev, a community-first platform pairing technologists with real roles at startups and enterprise companies—backed by an AI engine and human talent advisors who care about fit, not just filling seats. Joining their community means access to vetted opportunities, career-support events, and people who know what’s hiring right now, not six months ago.

  Check out Torc.dev →
  
  They also have a “Laid off Lounge” event with Tyler Benfield, Staff Software Engineer at Prisma coming up!

CreateHER Fest is Unstoppable: Your Founders Made the List!

We’re excited to share some amazing news with you: we’ve both been named among Unstoppable Women of Web3 & AI’s Most Inspirational Women of Web3 & AI for 2025. Being recognized on a global list that includes founders, technologists, and ecosystem builders reshaping the future of AI and Web3 is surreal—and we’re especially proud to represent the CreateHER community on that stage.

Unstoppable Women of Web3 & AI selected honorees from worldwide nominations, highlighting leaders driving education, access, and innovation in emerging tech. For us, this honor isn’t just about our names on a list—it’s a celebration of what you are building with CreateHER Fest: a future where women everywhere are not just included in AI and Web3, but leading.

If you want to see the full lineup of incredible women recognized this year, you can explore all of the winners here down below!

MeetHER in AR: Networking Without the Awkward

Step into the future with us. CreateHER Fest is teaming up with The Diamond Resilience for MeetHER in AR, a cozy, low-pressure networking event designed for women who are curious about emerging technology and craving more authentic connections in tech. You’ll explore the metaverse, customize your avatar, meet other builders in our community, and maybe even find your next #75HER teammate, accountability buddy, or co-founder!

We’re centering psychological safety, cultural resonance, and fun. Expect guided icebreakers, games, and stories from women leading in AI, AR/VR, and beyond, plus clear instructions so you can focus on connecting, not the tech.

We also want to shape the experience around you. What helps you feel comfortable meeting new people? Let us know in the poll below:

Your answer will directly inform how we design MeetHER in AR!

COMMUNITY SURVEY

Enjoyed it? Share us with your network!

THIS WEEK’S RESOURCES

• Laid off Lounge with Torc.dev

  • Join the Torc.dev team, as they talk with job seekers who are on the job search. Learn actionable skills to take into the job hunt today and get the support you need! With this week's guest, Tyler Benfield, Staff Software Engineer at Prisma.
    Register Today →

• Work at Youtube as a UX Designer (entry level friendly!)

  • Don't have 5+ years of experience? No problem! These UX Designer roles at Google are PERFECT for someone just starting out. Apply Today →

• Purple Dream Scholarship

  • This scholarship aims to empower single mothers who are determined to pursue or complete their college education, regardless of the hurdles they face. Any single mother who is a low-income, first-generation undergraduate student may apply for this scholarship opportunity. Deadline: December 15th, 2025. 

    Apply (Or Fund It) Today →

• BitBasel at ArtBasel 2025

  • Headed to Miami for Art Basel? Check out BitBasel 2025 at the Sagamore Hotel—four days of art, Web3, fintech, and culture, including The Queens Gathering*, where our co-founder Adriann Guy will be speaking. Use code CREATEHER for GA access to one event and tap into a lineup that blends blockchain, creativity, and community power. Register Today →

• The AI House Reception @ CES

  • Network with AI leaders at The AI House @ CES and celebrate women in emerging tech. There will be a special Unstoppable Women of Web3 & AI breakfast + evening reception on Jan 8—RSVP required, CES badge needed. Register Today →

Until next time,

Discover \ Design \ Deliver