Most people enter a toxic workplace believing they can fix it — that if they work hard enough, speak up clearly enough, or endure long enough, things will improve. While change is possible, it is rare. Recognizing that reality is often the first and most important step in protecting yourself.

In this grounded and deeply practical session, participants will explore what it truly means to “exit well” from an abusive workplace — not as a failure, but as a strategic, self-protective decision.

Drawing from lived experience inside a high-level institutional environment, this talk unpacks the early signs of “soft targeting,” how retaliation escalates when accountability is introduced and why abuse often intensifies when external scrutiny begins. Attendees will gain clear, actionable strategies for documenting events, communicating effectively, and preserving both legal options and personal integrity throughout the process.

This session moves beyond theory into real-world application — equipping participants with the tools to mitigate professional risk, reduce emotional harm, and make informed decisions in high-stakes environments.

Grounded in the truth that workplace abuse is never the target’s fault, this talk offers something equally critical: a pathway to reclaiming agency, protecting your future, and leaving with your values intact.

Erin Latona is a first-generation college graduate who advanced from faculty to senior leadership in higher education, driven by a commitment to ethical leadership and institutional accountability. In her most recent role, she identified illegal practices within weeks of starting and, after months of attempting to address them internally, reported them to federal authorities—triggering an external investigation and a rapid escalation of workplace targeting and retaliation. Recognizing the dynamics as they unfolded, she documented her experience and implemented strategies to protect her legal standing, professional reputation, and moral integrity prior to her departure. While the psychological and professional toll has been significant, it has fueled her mission to equip others with the tools to navigate workplace abuse, preserve their agency, and “exit well” from toxic environments.