Names matter.
Not because they’re clever—but because they signal how you think.
When I first launched this newsletter, I called it The Signal. The idea was simple: cut through noise and focus on what actually matters in careers, leadership, and the market.
That part hasn’t changed.
What has changed is the context around the word.
“Signal” now carries baggage—platform associations, political overtones, and distractions that pull attention away from the work itself. This newsletter was never about reacting to headlines or riding news cycles. It was about something more durable.
Thank you to those subscribers who gave me that feedback. It is greatly appreciated.
Because of that, I’m renaming it Transferable.
Why Transferable
Because careers don’t fail when jobs end.
They fail when the value isn’t portable.
Titles expire. Companies restructure. Industries shift. AI accelerates. Layoffs happen—quietly or loudly. And when they do, the only thing that matters is what moves with you.
That’s what this newsletter is about.
Transferable is a place to think clearly about:
Skills that compound instead of reset
Judgment that travels across roles
Reputation that outlasts organizations
How leaders, boards, and hiring decision-makers actually evaluate value
Not advice. Not hacks. Perspective.
What Won’t Change
The tone stays the same:
Honest
Market-aware
Grounded in executive search, leadership work, and lived experience
No motivational fluff. No performative optimism. Just clear thinking in uncertain markets.
What Is Coming
Over time, you’ll see me develop a deeper idea underneath this newsletter: Transferable Capital—the assets that compound across careers and create leverage when conditions change.
The newsletter is where those ideas show up in real time.
The framework is where they get organized.
If you’re navigating a transition, rebuilding after a disruption, or simply trying to stay relevant in a shifting market, you’re in the right place.
Thanks for staying with me.
Let’s keep building what lasts.
— David
P.S. I wrote Laid Off to Lift-Off after my own career disruption. It may help you with your own career journey. You can find my book at dejmedia.com.