LinkedIn Employee Argues for Authenticity Over Professionalism

Helena Adloff shared a personal reflection on LinkedIn regarding her departure from the company after a seven-year tenure.

Writing on the professional networking platform, Adloff described her exit as a “bittersweet goodbye” that challenged her previous perceptions of “professionalism.” She said that her time at the company, which began when she was 20 years old, provided lessons on the difficulty of maintaining authenticity within a corporate environment.

She suggested that the structures of the corporate world and capitalism can make such authenticity a struggle, but emphasized that holding onto one’s identity is a worthwhile endeavor.

Adloff, who served on the International Communications Team, focused her reflections on the human connections she formed rather than her professional metrics. She said that while work is important, individuals should strive to find themselves within their roles rather than losing their identity to them.

“When I die, there won’t be someone crying over my coffin talking about how amazing my Weekly Reports were,” Adloff wrote on LinkedIn.

The post highlighted the distinction Adloff drew between professional accomplishments and personal relationships. She said that her colleagues would remember her for her kindness and for “seeing” them, rather than for her list of campaigns or completed reports.

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Adloff credited her managers—Erica, Karuna, Najat, and Analía—and a group she referred to as her “OG Swirl Girls,” consisting of Hannah, Sally, and Bhairavi, for their support during her time at the company.

Her message concluded with a directive to others to remain themselves and to prioritize kindness and laughter alongside their professional pursuits.

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