Dan Springer, the former chief executive officer of DocuSign—the company globally recognized for revolutionizing electronic signatures and digital contract management—shared with Business Insider his perspective on how individuals can safeguard their careers amid widespread corporate layoffs. According to Springer, there are two primary actions employees can take to minimize their vulnerability to job cuts: one strategic and far-reaching, and the other more immediate and personal.
He explained that on a broad, macro level, professionals must continually invest in developing their own skills and competencies. The business world, he emphasized, is shaped by relentless technological advancement, and those who thrive are the ones who actively adapt to innovation rather than resist it. “The macro piece is that you must commit to strengthening your capabilities,” Springer said, elaborating that as new tools and systems emerge, workers must not only learn them but also integrate them into their daily work. This proactive attitude, he noted, not only preserves employability but also signals resilience and intellectual versatility—qualities highly prized in any organization.
To illustrate his point, Springer recalled the transformative impact of Apple’s iPhone, which debuted in 2007 and swiftly redefined both personal and professional communication. The device’s influence disrupted entire industries, displacing established players like Blackberry. Springer explained that when mobile computing first became integral to business, some professionals refused to adapt. “When the iPhone came out and mobility became part of how we do business,” he said, “there were people who insisted on sticking with their Blackberry devices, using them only for email and dismissing apps as unnecessary. Five years later, those employees had effectively become dinosaurs in their own workplaces.” His anecdote served as a cautionary reminder that complacency in the face of change can lead to professional obsolescence.
On a more personal, or micro, level, Springer emphasized the importance of genuine engagement with one’s company and its mission. He suggested that employees who aspire to become highly employable—those indispensable to their organizations—should demonstrate consistent dedication to the company’s success and contribute actively to its long-term goals. “Companies aren’t perfect,” he acknowledged, “but they usually recognize who their top performers are. They value employees who build and reinforce a positive culture, who work diligently to serve customers, and who consistently try to do the right things.”
Springer cautioned against cynicism, arguing that detachment or negativity can erode one’s value within an organization. “If you commit yourself fully, show perseverance, and stay optimistic instead of skeptical,” he said, “you ultimately become a truly valuable asset to the company—and people like that are always in demand.” His message underscored the dual importance of technical agility and emotional engagement as twin pillars of professional longevity.
A graduate of Harvard Business School, Springer served as DocuSign’s CEO from 2017 to 2022, later departing from the company’s board in April. Under his leadership, DocuSign experienced an extraordinary growth trajectory during the COVID-19 pandemic, as remote work and digital documentation became essential across industries. However, following its meteoric rise, the company’s stock value plummeted by roughly 80% from its summer 2021 peak to the time of Springer’s departure a year later, reflecting the post-pandemic recalibration of the tech sector.
In April, Springer transitioned to a new role as CEO of Ironclad—a contract management software company supported by investment giant Franklin Templeton—continuing his involvement in the evolving digital document space. During his tenure at DocuSign, the company’s workforce expanded dramatically, growing from approximately 2,255 employees in early 2018 to over 7,400 by January 2022. Yet after he stepped down in June 2022, DocuSign underwent a series of layoffs, reflecting broader shifts within the technology industry.
The first significant reduction occurred in September 2022, when the company announced plans to eliminate nearly 700 positions, roughly 9% of its total headcount. Further rounds followed: another 700 employees, or about 10% of the workforce, were let go in February 2023, and an additional 440 workers—representing 6% of staff—were dismissed in February 2024. According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, DocuSign employed about 6,838 people as of January 31, 2025.
These reductions were emblematic of a broader trend sweeping through the technology sector. In 2024, Microsoft declared two major rounds of job cuts, first letting go of approximately 6,000 employees in May, followed by an additional 9,000 in July—together representing roughly 4% of its workforce. Similarly, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg launched what he described as a “year of efficiency” in 2023, during which the company laid off 10,000 employees only months after slashing 11,000 positions the previous November. Such widespread downsizing has become a hallmark of an industry grappling with the pressures of post-pandemic stabilization and the accelerating integration of artificial intelligence.
The rise of AI has introduced further uncertainty into the employment landscape. In a May interview with Axios, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned that artificial intelligence could potentially eliminate up to half of all entry-level office jobs within the next five years. This prediction has contributed to growing concern among both employees and economists about the displacement effects of automation. Even policymakers have taken note: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged in September that AI is likely influencing the labor market, though he noted the exact magnitude of its impact remains difficult to quantify. “It may be that institutions that traditionally hired large numbers of recent graduates are now relying more heavily on AI tools,” Powell observed. He added that this shift might partially explain a general slowdown in employment growth.
Springer’s advice, therefore, resonates even more strongly in this era of rapid digital transformation and labor uncertainty. His message—that professionals must continuously evolve their skills and maintain a deep sense of purpose and loyalty—serves as both a strategy for survival and a path toward sustained relevance in a volatile marketplace. In essence, adaptability and commitment, working in tandem, remain the surest means of becoming nearly layoff-proof in the modern economy.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/dan-springer-ironclad-docusign-tips-layoff-proof-career-tech-commitment-2025-10
