Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Leaving a high-paying technology job can seem like a risky move, especially when the role comes with a six-figure salary and valuable stock benefits. For Jason Shen, however, the promise of financial security was no longer enough.
After nearly three years at Meta, Shen decided to leave his job and build a career around coaching startup founders.
As reported by Business Insider, Shen, 40, left Meta in June 2023 after earning about $250,000 in annual cash compensation through salary and bonus. He had already started coaching founders on the side and eventually decided to turn it into a full-time business, Refactor Labs, in 2024.
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FROM ETSY TO META
Shen had built an impressive technology career before leaving Meta.
He spent two years at Etsy, founded a technology company that was later acquired by Facebook, and then worked as a product leader at Meta.
According to the LinkedIn profile of Jason Shen, his career trajectory includes a three-year stint at Meta, where he worked as a Product Manager at Facebook from May 2022 to June 2023.
His LinkedIn profile also lists his work as an angel investor at FSH Technologies from May 2021, an angel investor at Scout from May 2022, and a founding board member at Lunar Accel from October 2023.
He is also listed as the co-founder and Cofounder Conflict Coach at Refactor Labs.
WHY DID HE LEAVE META?
Although Shen enjoyed working with talented colleagues, his job gradually became stressful. His days were filled with meetings, document reviews, reorganisations and constant changes within the company. He also realised that the work he enjoyed most was not necessarily what he was being paid to do.
Mentoring colleagues, facilitating workshops and helping people develop came naturally to him. That pushed him towards executive coaching. Shen had already started coaching startup founders on the side before deciding to make the career change, as reported by Business Insider.
HE SAVED $150,000 BEFORE TAKING THE RISK
Leaving a well-paying technology job to start a business came with financial risks. Shen launched his coaching business after setting aside around $150,000 to support himself while building the company. The gamble appears to have paid off.
As reported by Business Insider, Refactor Labs generated $369,000 in revenue over the past 12 months. His clients generally pay monthly retainers, while those dealing with co-founder conflicts typically sign up for three-month packages.
Despite running his own company, Shen says he works around 20 hours a week. Much of his work involves speaking to clients over Zoom, while AI tools help him manage administrative tasks. The change has also allowed him to spend more time with his family, fitness, and creative projects.
He takes his daughter to the playground or for a stroller run in the evenings and is also writing a book about ambition and building a meaningful life.
FROM A HIGH-PAYING JOB TO A CAREER ON HIS OWN TERMS
Shen’s career change reflects a shift from a conventional technology career to one built around the work he found more fulfilling.
He had a high-paying position at Meta and had built an established career in the technology industry. But after nearly three years at the company, he chose to pursue coaching startup founders instead.
For Shen, the decision meant moving away from a traditional corporate career and towards a business that allowed him to focus on mentoring, coaching, and helping founders.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
