Vanita Capobianco

I’m a mom, runner, podcast host and HR Technology professional with over a decade of experience implementing global HR systems and optimizing HR processes. I was born and raised in Trinidad, where I was surrounded by a village of strong women, from my grandma to many aunties, after my parents immigrated to the United States when I was two.

At 14, I moved to New York City and spent ten years as an undocumented immigrant, focusing on education because I couldn’t legally work. During that time, I graduated as my high school’s valedictorian and went on to earn both my college and graduate degrees.

Once I was able to legally work in the U.S., I spent the next decade climbing the corporate ladder from coordinator to Senior Director. After being unexpectedly laid off in 2024, I decided that 2025 would be my Yes Year. I started saying yes to things that scared me, including running my first half marathon, launching a newsletter, and starting my podcast, Laid Off to Lift Off.

My mission is simple really. I want to spread hope and inspiration by sharing honest, real stories and remind people that they are far more resilient than they give themselves credit for.