When I was a student, the best and the brightest — the movers, the shakers, the ones who wanted to change the world — dreamed of one place: Wall Street. Hedge funds, private equity, investment banking. The financial industry had gravity. It pulled in the ambitious with the promise of wealth, prestige and power.

I didn’t feel that pull.

Instead, like so many others of my generation, in spite of the fact that I had a law degree, I was seduced by the gleam of glowing monitors, the hum of servers and the boundless promise of computers and technology. The internet was just going commercial, and it felt like the front lines of the next revolution. Tech wasn’t just about money. It was about building something — changing the world through merit, logic and code.

For the next 30+ years, I lived in that world. A world that was dynamic, yes. Stressful? Sometimes. But also incredibly rewarding.

It wasn’t just the paychecks or the stock options (though those were nice). It was the meritocracy. If you were smart and got things done, you advanced. It was a space that embraced diversity early — geographically, racially, ideologically. You could work from anywhere, think big and have fun doing it.

Tech was where people wanted to be. Sushi in the breakroom. On-site massage chairs. Global travel. Standing desks and smart whiteboards. Hell, even hoodies became fashionable.

Most importantly, tech careers offered something increasingly rare in the modern world: Upward mobility, personal growth and optimism.

But today… Something feels different.

The Glow is Fading

Lately, I’ve spoken to friends, colleagues and tech veterans — some laid off, others burned out — and I keep hearing the same question: What happened to the tech industry we knew?

It’s not just one thing. It’s a confluence of forces.

✅ AI and automation are reshaping roles faster than people can retrain.

✅ Layoffs and hiring freezes are hitting even the best and brightest.

✅ DEI initiatives that once defined forward-thinking companies are being quietly walked back.

✅ Remote flexibility is disappearing as companies push return-to-office mandates.

✅ Perks and benefits are drying up while pressure ramps up.

A recent article in The New York Times titled “Silicon Valley’s Hard Tech Era” captures this mood well. The fun, whimsical, creative side of tech is being overshadowed by a new ethos: Cold, efficient, AI-driven productivity.

And it’s not just the Times.

• Forbes describes the “rise of AI resentment at work”—a quiet rebellion among workers who feel sidelined or replaced by algorithms. 
• SHRM warns that AI may revolutionize work by wrecking it. 
• And even the always-lively halls of Reddit are filled with threads of disillusionment from young developers who once dreamed of shaping the future, not being replaced by it.
  

Was It Ever What We Thought?

It’s hard not to wonder if I romanticized tech work. Was it ever really as open, rewarding and future-facing as I believed? Or was I just lucky enough to ride a generational wave during its peak?

There was always pressure. Always burnout. Always some level of exploitation. But the trade-offs felt worth it — because there was a sense of mission and shared innovation.

Today, for many, that mission is muddled. The vibe has shifted from “we’re changing the world” to “we’re just trying to keep our jobs.”

Even Gen Z — the digital natives, the crypto coders, the AI dreamers — aren’t flocking to tech like millennials and Gen X did. Many are eyeing entrepreneurship, content creation, or even public service with more enthusiasm than working for Big Tech.

And that makes me… sad.

Hope for the Next Golden Age

But maybe we’re just in a trough. Tech has always moved in waves. The dot-com crash. The Great Recession. Even the COVID tech boom and bust cycle. Maybe this is just another bend in the road.

There are still brilliant minds building amazing things. Still innovations happening in AI, quantum, biotech, clean energy and more.

If we can rediscover our sense of purpose — if we can build companies that value people as much as platforms — then maybe, just maybe, tech jobs can get their shizzle back.

I’m hopeful. I have to be.

After all, I raised a family, traveled the world and built a life in this industry. I want the next generation to have that chance too.

Let’s make sure they do.