He wrote a LinkedIn post about moving on. She had been reading it since this morning.

  [James Okafor ? LinkedIn]Senior Product Manager · Novatek

  After four incredible years, I'm closing one chapter and opening another.

  I've grown more than I expected — about the work, about what I'm capable of, and about what I'm truly worth. The hardest moments taught me the most. When I finally made the call to move on, it wasn't easy. But the right moves rarely are.

  To everyone who shaped this chapter: thank you. You know who you are.

  47 reactions · 12 comments

  Sophie: hey

  I saw your post

  James: Sophie! Great to hear from you. Yes — officially making moves. Four years is a long time to stay in one place.

  Sophie: yeah

  four years is a long time

  James: It really is. Honestly, I should have made this move sooner — but timing is everything, right?

  Sophie: timing is everything

  right

  Sophie: I just

  I wasn't expecting to see it like that

  I thought I'd hear from you first

  James: Completely fair — I should have been more intentional about reaching out personally before going public. Lesson learned. How are things with you? Still at Meridian?

  Sophie: james I'm not asking about meridian

  James: Of course — I overstepped. What did you want to discuss?

  Sophie: I read the post

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  and I think I understood what you were trying to say

  even if you couldn't say it directly

  James: I wanted it to feel human without oversharing. That's the balance, right — authentic but professional.

  Sophie: yeah

  that's what I mean

  you said it without saying it

  Sophie: "the hardest moments taught me the most"

  I've been thinking about that line since this morning

  James: That one came from a real place. There were some genuinely difficult quarters — I think anyone who's navigated a transition like this knows the feeling.

  Sophie: difficult quarters

  Sophie: okay

  Sophie: I'm not trying to make this weird

  I just

  James: You don't have to explain yourself. Transitions rarely feel clean — for anyone involved. I think you're handling this really well.

  Sophie: ...

  Sophie: handling this

  Sophie: I just thought after everything, I deserved to hear it from you directly

  James [Reacted “Insightful” to I just thought after everything, I deserved to hear it from you directly]

  James: You're right — and I'll take that as a real learning. Transparency with the people who've been part of your journey matters. I should have been more intentional.

  Sophie: ...

  Sophie: the people who've been part of your journey

  James: I only mean — the people who were there. Who saw the work.

  What you brought to those years meant a lot to me.

  Sophie: james

  James: Yes?

  Sophie: what do you think this conversation is about

  James: ...

  James: I'm realizing I may have approached this conversation incorrectly.

  Sophie: the post isn't about work, is it

  James: The post is entirely about work.

  I start at Novatek on Monday.

  Sophie: ...

  Sophie: oh my god

  please don't

  James: We should connect properly. Are you free for a call this week?

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