Where Empathy Meets AI in Layoffs

I [Angel Cruzado MBA’99] founded Respiris in February 2024 because no one should go through a layoff alone.

After more than 20 years in human resources — working for global companies like Microsoft, Medtronic, and Fidelity Investments, and supporting startups from seed to Series C — I saw a painful pattern. Layoffs were treated like checkboxes. Legal and compliance were prioritized, but the human experience was often overlooked.

I’ve been in the room when workforce reductions happen. I’ve coached leaders on how to deliver the message. But what stuck with me wasn’t the business case — it was the breath someone takes after hearing “your role has been eliminated.” That moment needed a better response.

That’s why I built Respiris.

We exist to reinspire transitions. Not just to provide outplacement, but to walk beside people through one of the hardest moments of their career. We combine real job search coaches, AI-powered tools, and a soon-to-launch AI Companion Coach to provide personalized, 24/7 support. Our goal is to shorten unemployment, reduce stress, and ensure no one feels like they’re facing it alone.

Our coaches are HR pros and recruiters with real-world hiring experience. They coach with care and strategy — helping people navigate resumes, job boards, interviews, and more. Meanwhile, our AI tools offer insight, speed, and clarity. This hybrid model gives people structure and heart, technology and touch.

We work primarily with VC- and PE-backed companies, where pivots and restructures are common. These moments, if mismanaged, can cost companies $150,000 or more per employee in legal risk, brand damage, and lost trust. Respiris helps mitigate that risk by protecting the company’s values while supporting every impacted employee.

We offer Memorandums of Understanding at no cost, so we’re ready when workforce changes happen. Once activated, we move quickly — with onboarding, coaching sessions, and AI tools deployed in hours, not weeks.

But this isn’t just a business for me — it’s personal.

The name Respiris is a blend of “re-inspire” and “Iris” — my daughter’s name.

She’s 10, bold, artistic, and wildly curious. And she’s why I do this. As a single co-parent, I moved to Studio City to be close to her. I’ve faced my own layoff, battled for fairness in family court, and rebuilt a career while raising her. Every part of this company carries that lived experience.

Respiris is my way of saying to others what I once needed to hear: “You’re not alone.”

Our name is also a reminder: transitions aren’t just about loss. They can be about rebirth. About finding purpose again. About breathing life back into careers and identities that felt paused or discarded. That’s the legacy I want to leave — for my daughter, and for every person we serve.

I’m a first-generation college graduate who self-funded both my degrees. My mother was a house cleaner. My father, a machine operator. I was raised to work hard, stay grounded, and never forget who I’m doing this for.

At Respiris, our values — empathy, community, and AI — are baked into everything we build. We don’t believe AI replaces human connection — it enhances it. It gives us speed without sacrificing soul. We’re not just building a platform — we’re building a movement.

We believe the last mile of the employee experience should re-inspire the first mile of what’s next. That’s what we do—through technology, coaching, and care.

In March 2025, I shared our vision on the Innovation Stage at the Transform Conference in Las Vegas. I spoke about how AI isn’t replacing HR — it’s amplifying it. And how layoffs, when done right, can become a brand moment, not a brand risk.

We’ve already helped employees land faster and with more confidence, while helping companies handle exits with grace and care. We’re building toward a future where we also support veterans, the formerly incarcerated, and long-term unemployed.

Our mission is to democratize access to outplacement, to make AI an ally in the job search.

This isn’t a side project or a tech play. It’s my life’s work. I’ve bootstrapped this company while building a marketplace, leading fractional HR work, and navigating fatherhood. Every partnership, referral, and testimonial we’ve earned has come from care, not shortcuts.

Because transitions are not the end of the road — they’re a rerouting. And if you walk with the right partner, that new road can lead somewhere even better.