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, he decided to leave and build a career around coaching startup founders.
According to 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.
Why Jason Shen left Meta after earning $250,000
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.
Although he enjoyed working with talented colleagues, the job gradually became stressful. His days were filled with meetings, document reviews, reorganisations and constant changes within the company.
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{{/usCountry}}"The money was great," Shen said, but he could not imagine continuing in the same environment for another 20 years.
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.
He now works around 20 hours a week
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.
He told Business Insider that 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.
A less stressful life after Big Tech
Shen admits he could have earned millions more by staying at Meta and continuing to receive company stock. However, he believes the trade-off was worth it.
"I would have had to grind for that money for years," he told Business Insider.
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He now hopes to eventually surpass his former Big Tech compensation while maintaining the flexibility he has gained. For Shen, leaving a prestigious technology job was not simply about earning less. It was about deciding what his time was worth.