At Startup Decoder, we’re fierce advocates for mid- and late-career employees in startups and tech companies. Being older in tech is not easy! Not only do many face ageism in job search, making career moves stressful–and sometimes impossible. But once in a role, working with a youth-centric team and reporting to a less experienced manager can be uncomfortable. It’s easy to feel like an outsider.
I wrote this novel as another way to understand and relate to what it’s like to be older in a young workplace. Reading fiction is such a powerful way to inhabit another, to gain empathy. It’s also a way to realize you are not alone. My hope is that Jillian Johnson, the protagonist in this novel, is someone you can relate to, and that you’ll vicariously experience the roller coaster ride she embarks on.
Employee 6 Is 54 is available on Amazon in both ebook and paperback formats. To get a taste of Jillian’s jump from a traditional hotel sales role to becoming Employee #6 at an early-stage startup, you can download the first chapter here, or read a sample and buy it on Amazon. I thank you for supporting the idea that companies, including those in tech, function best with intergenerational teams.
