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.
the job gradually became stressful Although he enjoyed working with talented colleagues. His days were filled with meetings, document reviews, reorganisations and constant changes within the company. The gamble appears to have paid off.
Shen, 40, left Meta in June 2023 after earning about $250,000 in annual cash compensation through salary and bonus, according to Business Insider . He had already started coaching founders on the side and eventually decided to turn it into a full-time business, Refactor Labs, in 2024. Shen launched his coaching business after setting aside around $150,000 to support himself while building the company.
His clients generally pay monthly retainers, while those dealing with co-founder conflicts typically sign up for three-month packages. Much of his work involves speaking to clients over Zoom, while AI tools help him manage administrative tasks. He told Business Insider that Refactor Labs generated $369,000 in revenue over the past 12 months. Despite running his own company, Shen says he works around 20 hours a week.
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.
