Brian's philosophy is straightforward: build your network before you need it. He believes that relationships and trust are the foundation of resilience and innovation in leadership.

For those dealing with "being let go". I hope this story gives you a bit of hope.

As you know, we run a lot of dinners with F500 execs. I often get asked, “Why did I start The Learning Forum?”
My answer, because I got fired.

If you’ve ever been “let go,” you know the whirlwind of emotions that follows—fear, uncertainty, and how will I pay the mortgage..

So, here’s my story. It was shortly after 9/11, 2001 and I was leading HR research at The Conference Board. The aftermath of the attacks devastated the conference business. Research was an overhead cost, so they cut our department.
While others got "laid off", I got fired. A few weeks earlier, I’d presented to the CEO and President about how they were losing the ethos of The Conference Board’s brand—the very power that had set it apart. Let’s just say that conversation didn’t win me any friends at the top. But that’s a story for another time.
Now, back to being fired. There I was: one kid in college, another on the way, a mortgage to pay, no real savings, and no plan. I have worked since I was 12 and never got fired. It was a pretty scary place to be.

The next question I often get asked is “What did I learn from the experience? “
My answer - The importance of having a strong network.

Thankfully, my research role had introduced me to some incredible thought leaders—Ed Schein, Chris Argyris, Warren Bennis, Tom Stewart, Art Kleiner, Steve Kerr, Larry Prusak, Liam Fahey and many others. I had also built connections with progressive HR leaders and the emerging wave of Chief Learning Officers and Chief Knowledge Officers at that time.

So, the day after I found myself unemployed, I sent a simple email to those contacts: “I could use your help.” That was it. no context. (Many of you know about my curt emails.)
What followed was what changed my life. For three days straight, my phone didn’t stop ringing. These amazing people reached out, offering advice, encouragement, and support, without even knowing the details of why I had reached out to them.

It was my HR friends who proposed the idea: “Let’s form a new group.” And that’s exactly what we did. That one idea and their support helped pay the mortgage, yes, but it also became the foundation of something much bigger. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Moral of the Story

Getting fired isn’t the end, it can be the beginning of something incredible. It’s not just about what you lose but what you can create in the face of adversity. Challenges force us to innovate, lean on our relationships, and discover strengths we didn’t know we had.

Advice for Others

Build Your Network Before You Need It: Relationships are your most valuable currency. Invest in them generously.
Remember, every ending holds the seeds of a new beginning. The key is to plant those seeds and let them grow.