Once at the pinnacle of the fashion magazine world, former editors-in-chief Laura Brown and Kristina O’Neill boldly embrace their public firings, transforming personal adversity into a powerful guide for career reinvention. Their new book, All the Cool Girls Get Fired, challenges outdated perceptions of ambition and job loss, offering a roadmap to resilience and renewed purpose for anyone navigating a career setback.
In a decade where ambitious women were often encouraged to “lean in,” working harder and longer to claim their seats at the corporate table, Laura Brown and Kristina O’Neill perfectly embodied this ethos. Both ascended to the coveted roles of editors-in-chief at major fashion and lifestyle publications, a testament to their dedication and talent. Brown led InStyle, while O’Neill helmed WSJ. Magazine, after each spent over a decade at Harper’s Bazaar. They were icons, commanding influence, hosting lavish events, and gracing the front rows of fashion shows worldwide.
However, their seemingly unshakeable positions eventually met an unexpected end: they were both fired. This high-profile dismissal, far from being a career-ending disaster, sparked a profound shift in their perspectives and led to a powerful collaboration. The result is their new book, All the Cool Girls Get Fired, a guide designed to dismantle the stigma around job loss and redefine career success in a rapidly changing world.
The Firing Heard Around the Fashion World
The experience of losing their dream jobs was swift and public. Laura Brown recalls receiving only 20 minutes’ notice, a blunt corporate line delivered via Zoom. “When you get fired, you receive this incoming deluge of communications,” Brown shared in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar. She described it as “like reading beautiful eulogies about yourself, but you’re still alive.”
Kristina O’Neill‘s experience offered a slightly longer runway. After numerous canceled meetings with her new editor-in-chief, a sudden location change to the HR floor signaled the inevitable. “I said, ‘Be right back. I’m going to go get fired,’” O’Neill recounted. She had a “lame duck” period, which allowed her time to process and choose an honest narrative rather than spinning her departure as voluntary. This commitment to truth was a foundational choice for both women.
“There is, in so many cases, that immediate shame, that feeling of ‘I wasn’t good enough’ or ‘I can’t tell anyone’ or ‘I’m going to spin it,’” Brown explained. “And we were like, ‘No.’ We had nothing to hide. It didn’t mean we sucked. It didn’t mean we were incompetent. We were great. Why would we erode ourselves with spin and obfuscation just to keep up some perceived idea of status? It made us immediately stronger to admit it.”
All the Cool Girls Get Fired: The Book’s Genesis and Message
Recognizing the universal nature of their experience, Brown and O’Neill felt compelled to write about it. All the Cool Girls Get Fired, published by Gallery Books and set for release on October 14, 2025, is a comprehensive guide to navigating career setbacks. This hardcover book spans 288 pages and carries an ISBN-13 of 9781668067451, according to its product details on Amazon.
The book serves as a vital “coda” to the “lean in” movement, offering a more nuanced perspective on ambition and resilience. It’s a blend of a practical manual and a career-oriented memoir, featuring:
- Revealing essays from other wildly successful women who have been fired, including icons like Oprah Winfrey, Katie Couric, and Lisa Kudrow.
- Actionable advice for coping with job loss, navigating challenges like healthcare, and strategizing for what comes next.
- Humor and candor to destigmatize the shame often associated with being let go.
The authors emphasize that one of the greatest lessons is the power of community. “You read their stories and, one, it’s built-in community, and then, two, it fires up your dreams,” Brown noted, highlighting how the book fosters a sense of solidarity among those who have faced similar professional setbacks.
Reinventing Ambition and Finding New Paths
For both Brown and O’Neill, getting fired became a catalyst for profound personal and professional growth. It provided the space to re-evaluate their relationship with work and what truly makes them happy. They swiftly landed back on their feet in roles that better aligned with their reframed ambitions.
- Laura Brown founded her own company, LB Media, which integrates arts with the global community to foster health and culture. Her new work reflects a broader, more purposeful definition of ambition.
- Kristina O’Neill is now the Head of Sotheby’s Media and once again an editor-in-chief, this time for Sotheby’s Magazine. She found joy in shedding the intense pressures of managing large teams through tumultuous times, prioritizing family in her decisions.
“When I had to think about what could be next, my relationship to what made me happy changed. I think that is the gift you get when you lose your job,” O’Neill reflected. This sentiment resonates throughout their narrative, suggesting that job loss can unlock opportunities for a more balanced and authentic career path.
A Movement to Destigmatize Job Loss
Ultimately, Brown and O’Neill aim to ignite a revolution in how society perceives job loss. They believe that removing the shame associated with being fired, particularly for women who have historically had to work harder to achieve professional parity, is crucial for future success and overall well-being. “The whole point is to remove the generations of shame that women feel when they’re let go from their jobs,” Brown asserted. By openly discussing their experiences and providing practical tools, they hope to clear the road for others to live fuller, more successful, and more honest lives.
Their book is not just a guide but an invitation to join a growing community. As Brown puts it, “A lot of people have been fired before—and hopefully, with the help of this book, more and more of them are ready to admit it. So there’s actually a bigger community out there for you than you think.” All the Cool Girls Get Fired promises to be an essential resource for anyone looking to transform a professional setback into an epic comeback.
