• Janelle Romero quintupled her salary in six years but strategically job-hopping.
• Despite initial skepticism, job-hopping allowed Romero to gain valuable skills and experience.
• Romero's career strategy emphasizes skill-building and salary growth over job satisfaction.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Janelle Romero, a 30-year-old labor and employment law attorney in New York City. It's been edited for length and clarity.

As an employment attorney, I advise people to leave their jobs to make more money. Job-hopping also helped me triple my own salary from five figures to six figures in three years.

Job-hopping is the best way to increase your salary no matter the industry, but you must ensure that the skills and experience you gain in each role contribute to the big picture of the professional you want to be.

After job-hopping for the second half of my 20s, I earn more than $200,000 in my current role.

Everyone told me job-hopping was the worst thing I could do

My father strongly opposed job-hopping and felt it might hurt my career trajectory. I also received negative feedback from many recruiters about the number of jobs I'd held in such a short period, but I had a strategy.

When I graduated from law school at the end of 2018, I intentionally job-hopped to advance my career.

I took my first job out of law school in 2019 at age 24 and worked there for a little over one year. I was hired as a law clerk making $40,000 a year, with a guarantee that I'd be given a raise once I was admitted to the Bar.

Once I got admitted, I was given a raise to $60,000, then $65,000

I realized it would not be easy to make real money if I were only given raises in $5,000 increments.

By the one-year mark, I was already knowledgeable in wage theft cases because my firm involved me heavily in our cases. I noticed our clients often had valid discrimination cases, but we didn't practice discrimination at that firm.

I wasn't yet experienced enough to navigate discrimination cases independently, and I wanted to learn how, so I left for a discrimination firm.

That move took my salary to $85,000

I was also given insurance benefits, a matching 401(k), and payment for attorney, Bar association, and course registration fees.

I stayed at that firm for about six months to gain the experience and knowledge I needed to feel confident navigating the process of filing discrimination claims. The more experience you have in the job, the less time you should take to learn the role in your next job.

I said to my first employer, "You already practice employment law, but you don't do discrimination, and I do. Let me do discrimination here." They hired me back, and I started their discrimination department.

That move increased my salary again to $110,000, plus commission

They were willing to pay me that much more because I returned with specific experience and knowledge to expand the firm's services.

Trying to market and attract discrimination clients led me to TikTok. I made videos explaining the sexual harassment allegations against Andrew Cuomo on my own TikTok account so I could take it with me when I left.

The videos did fairly well. I took those videos to my boss and showed him I could reach thousands of people in just three videos. I even received a few inquiry emails from potential clients.

He agreed and allowed me to market on the app to bring in clients. As my page grew, the number of cases I could bring to the firm grew, and my value increased. I used this to negotiate my commission deal.

Then, I became curious about how businesses handle HR complaints and got a job as the head of labor law at an international startup. I oversaw their HR department, which had over 700 employees and contractors.

The switch to the startup bumped me up to a $130,000 salary

Things moved quickly, and I learned a lot. I helped expand the company to about 27 additional countries in my four months there.

The startup hit some funding roadblocks and had a large round of layoffs, which I was part of in early summer 2022.

I was let go a couple of months before my destination wedding, so in hindsight, the layoff was a blessing in disguise.

In December 2022, I decided to incorporate my own firm

Starting my own firm set me back in salary for my first year — I reinvested profits into my work. Toward the end of 2023, I'd built up a steady enough stream of cases to allow me to expand.

I started exploring the possibility of merging my firm with another and returning to the position of a salaried employee.

In March 2024, I accepted a full-time position as managing associate attorney at Consumer Justice Law Firm. I brought all my retained cases to the new firm for an increased commission rate once they were resolved.

In my current role, I make $225,000 in base salary plus commission and bonuses. At 30, I've more than quintupled my salary by job-hopping.

I'd never have been able to learn and accomplish so much in such a short time without job-hopping

It benefits your career when you job-hop to gain new skills instead of randomly. If I'd job-hopped from a criminal law firm to a personal injury firm to an intellectual property firm, it wouldn't have been effective because that experience wouldn't have compounded on itself.

You don't leave a job just because you don't like it or you're bored, frustrated, or annoyed. You leave a job once you've hit your salary ceiling at the company and gained the experience that the role is supposed to provide you with.

I think it's great for people to enjoy what they do, but I don't think it's important for your job to be your passion. Your life should be your passion — your job should be the thing you do so that you can afford your passions.

Want to share your salary growth story? Email Lauryn Haas at [email protected].

• Akshay Phadké has spent the past decade in tech, from Big Tech to startups.
• He faced countless rejections before four résumé strategies helped him land a job at Microsoft.
• He focused on technical strengths, concise content, visual appeal, and clear communication to stand out.

Akshay Phadké, 32, has spent the last decade climbing the ranks in both Big Tech and startups.

"I aspired to work at such places alongside people who were curious to learn new things, looked at the way things were and thought they could be made better, and wanted to make a difference in people's lives with their work," Phadké told Business Insider.

The Seattle-based senior software engineer at Webflow started his career in tech by landing two consecutive internships at Ericsson while pursuing his master's degree in electrical and computer engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

After graduating from his master's program in 2016, Phadké was hired full-time at Ericsson before working at Microsoft, B2B SAAS fintech startup Vareto, and Webflow.

In addition to landing his offer from Microsoft, Phadké also secured final onsite interview rounds at Meta, Amazon, Dropbox, and Yelp, as well as job offers from 23andMe and Wayfair.

The offers didn't come easily, though.

He said he had "countless interviews" where the outcome wasn't in his favor, and each rejection stung, especially in cases where he'd reached the final stage of the interview loop. When Phadké got the good news of his job offers, he felt "shock mixed with half-disbelief and relief, like I'd just run a marathon."

Four ways to make your résumé stand out

Here's the exact résumé that helped Phadké score these victories, and the four choices he made that he feels helped him stand out from other candidates.

1. Keep a narrow focus on technical strengths

"Listing a lot of technologies — even if someone has used all of them — can hurt more than help," he said, as it could be perceived by hiring teams as inflating your capabilities.

"New grads or early-in-career candidates may feel tempted to include more technologies to make their résumé more competitive, but it only opens them up to more scrutiny," he said. "Tech companies are looking for engineers who've solved meaningful problems at scale. These opportunities require time and effort to build, so for someone with five to seven years of experience, the number of such projects will usually be in the single digits."

Listing too many technologies can also backfire when interviewers probe the candidate's capabilities, Phadké explained.

"A less-than-satisfactory response to a question about a technology one hasn't used recently — even if they're familiar with it — may mean a rejection, especially if a lot of candidates are competing for the same role," he said.

On his résumé, Phadké mentioned only the top technologies — the ones he'd used the most and had the most technical knowledge of — with each role, and rated his own expertise with each technology with a graphic showing his self-assessed skill level between one and five.

"This was an attempt to show my confidence in certain skills rated higher by me, and acknowledge that I had more learning left in other skills rated lower," he said. "I wanted to make it clear that I wasn't claiming expert-level competence in all the skills listed on my resume."

Phadké highlighted his Apache Spark expertise prominently in the description of his last role, which he feels helped him stand out in his Microsoft application, as it was one of the technologies the team was investing in.

When the hiring team asked him deep probing questions about technologies that he had less experience with, Phadké was upfront and honest if he didn't know the answer. "It isn't possible to be an expert in everything, and being honest about not knowing the answer is better, in my opinion, than guesswork," he said.

2. Be concise in all résumé elements

This same "less is more" strategy served Phadké in his overall résumé, which he kept to a lean one-pager.

"Hiring managers dedicate 30 seconds to a minute to review each résumé," Phadké said. "I wanted to ensure that my résumé communicated the most important pieces of information in that timeframe, while also creating a strong hook."

To achieve these goals, in addition to ensuring he didn't add too many technical details, he served up a hook by dedicating two to three lines to describe each of his key projects.

"Because of this, I was able to create a sense of curiosity, and I was consistently able to secure a hiring manager technical screening interview in which the hiring manager wanted to know more about my work," Phadké said.

3. Stand out visually

Even for people without graphic design skills, you can still take steps to make your résumé visually pleasing.

Phadké included company and university logos from his past roles and schools on his résumé to create a strong brand association. He also used a custom sans-serif font over a serif font to create a polished and professional feel and adopted a grayscale color palette instead of a black one for a softer reading experience.

"I've never used Microsoft Word or text editing software to create my résumés," Phadké said. "I feel résumés created this way end up looking generic — especially if you use templates, which almost everyone else does too."

Instead, he's experimented with a few software programs, such as Adobe Photoshop, LaTeX, and Figma to create his résumé.

4. Clearly communicate responsibilities and outcomes

Candidates sometimes blend their own achievements with team achievements on their résumés, which can make it harder for recruiters and hiring teams to determine what work they really did.

To avoid this, Phadké listed only the work he did as an individual — not what his team did collectively — and did so in simple terms without jargon.

"Hiring managers are looking for engineers who can communicate their achievements objectively and clearly understand how their work adds value," he said.

To reveal the full scope of his project areas, Phadké ensured that his résumé emphasized projects in different areas of software engineering, spanning systems engineering, backend web development, and data engineering.

Phadké stressed that demonstrating the ability to adapt to new paradigms and technologies gives hiring managers confidence that they can trust you with projects that are out of your comfort zone.

"The takeaway for the hiring manager was my ability to pick up new technologies and be successful with them," Phadké said.

If you landed a job in Big Tech and would like to share your story, email Jane Zhang at [email protected].

• Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun focuses on leadership and operational improvements.
• Adamolekun emphasizes staying focused, controlling emotions, and taking breaks to be a good leader.
• His leadership tactics aim to enhance productivity, decision-making, and team motivation.

Since becoming Red Lobster's CEO in September 2024, Damola Adamolekun has overseen the launch of a next-generation menu, reintroduced fan favorites, added new dishes, and rolled out happy hour at many restaurants nationwide.

The former CEO of PF Chang told Business Insider that though he's changed companies, his focus as a CEO remains on investing in people, simplifying and improving operations, ensuring a consistently great product, revitalizing marketing efforts, and upgrading technology systems and infrastructure.

Adamolekun was previously a partner at Paulson & Co., headquartered in New York City, and led the transaction to acquire PF Chang's in 2019. He then served as chief strategy officer and company director until being named CEO in May 2020 at only 31 years old; he served in that role until December 2023. Previously, Adamolekun worked in the investment banking division of Goldman Sachs and as a private equity associate at TPG Capital.

The Red Lobster CEO shared his top three leadership tactics with BI.

Concentrate on one task at a time

Adamolekun emphasized that effective leaders know the importance of staying present and honing in on the task at hand to eliminate distractions.

"With so many distractions in today's fast-paced world, it can be easy to get sidetracked," Adamolekun said. "By concentrating on one task at a time, you not only increase your own productivity but also set an example for your team."

This focused approach allows him to make thoughtful decisions, maintain clarity, drive initiatives forward, and avoid the mistakes that come from rushing or multitasking.

Practice emotional control

Effective leaders also know how to manage their emotions so they can respond rather than react, according to Adamolekun — especially in challenging situations.

"Practicing emotional control means taking a moment to pause, assess the situation, and respond thoughtfully, rather than reacting impulsively," he said.

Adamolekun explained that this leadership hack helps him maintain calm during crises, make better decisions, and lead with empathy.

"When you model emotional control, you create a stable environment where your team feels supported and motivated, even in the face of adversity," Adamolekun said. "By modeling emotional resilience, you inspire your team to approach adversity with confidence and composure, which helps maintain a positive work environment."

Take a break and step back from duties

This CEO prioritizes recharging and refocusing to facilitate clarity and creativity.

Making time to unplug and disconnect from work allows Adamolekun to recharge, reflect, and gain new perspectives so he can come back to his team with fresh ideas, renewed focus, and a more balanced outlook. He feels this approach ultimately enhances his leadership effectiveness in the long run.

"Leadership can be draining when you're constantly connected," Adamolekun said. "Whether it's taking a run, stepping away from technology and social media, or simply taking a break, stepping back from your duties gives you the mental clarity and energy you need to lead with purpose."

If you're a CEO and would like to share your productivity tips, please email Manseen Logan at [email protected].

• A Gen Z employee landed their dream job as a full-time software engineer at a Magnificent 7 company.
• While they love their job, the fast-paced, high-pressure environment of Big Tech isn't for everyone.
• They emphasized perks and financial gains shouldn't overshadow passion for coding and innovation.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with a Gen Z employee at a Magnificent 7 company. The source's name and full employment history are known to Business Insider but are not named to protect their privacy. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I always dreamed of working in Silicon Valley for a Big Tech company, but now that I've experienced working at one of the Magnificent 7, I don't think it's the best career path for everyone.

I advise people considering breaking into Big Tech to self-reflect before deciding if this path is right for them.

I immigrated to the US with the vision of landing a job at a tech behemoth

I wanted to impact millions through lines of code, and I've been working toward getting into a Big Tech company since day one.

I got my bachelor's degree in computer science in the US and became a full-time software engineer when I joined a Big Tech company right after graduation.

My first breakthrough came the summer after my freshman year

I had the opportunity to intern as a software developer.

Mass-applying to Big Tech internships, networking on LinkedIn, researching, and freelancing to build my portfolio got me in the door. I also attended hackathons like TreeHacks, LA Hacks, and Technica and conferences like the Grace Hopper Conference and Afrotech.

I started these efforts while I was still a student, taking on several odd jobs, including working as IT support, doing unpaid work for startups, and teaching assistantships for six core computer science courses in college.

I also started consistently posting on LinkedIn and writing a tech blog.

My second Big Tech breakthrough came when I scored the opportunity to intern at a Big Tech company in Silicon Valley

This helped me land a full-time Big Tech job a year later.

My dream hasn't disappointed me — I love working in Big Tech. The perks are endless: gorgeous offices, free or subsidized food and drinks, high-impact work, great retirement and health insurance benefits, fitness reimbursement, intelligent coworkers, a high paycheck, and more.

That doesn't mean Big Tech is right for everyone. If you fall into one of these five categories, you might not be a good fit for a Big Tech career.

1. You don't like being pressured to work at a fast pace

If you're uncomfortable in a high-pressure environment where working at breakneck speed is essential, Big Tech might not be for you.

Big Tech companies hire people who are not only highly competent but also extremely motivated, often paying top-of-market salaries to attract the best talent. These companies focus on speed and constant innovation to stay ahead of the competition, so you usually need to move fast.

We're encouraged to interact with other parts of the business, which fosters faster decision-making and reduces communication barriers. They also expect high-quality work immediately, even from an intern.

I am OK with working quickly. I learned right away that making a concrete plan of action, setting sub-goals to stay on track, and ensuring I jump into the task immediately instead of procrastinating is helpful.

2. You're not into constant learning and skills updating

The tech industry is fast-paced, which is further amplified when you work for a highly innovative Big Tech company. Candidates for this field must be comfortable adapting quickly to new tools, frameworks, and APIs.

When AI tools are first introduced, many Big Tech companies will immediately encourage their employees to use them to work more efficiently. I've seen a surge in the use of AI tools in my job since the start of 2024.

3. You're not prepared for a high-stress environment

Rapid innovation and results are part and parcel of the tech industry. These demands can cause employees to experience serious pressure — especially those who aren't genuinely passionate about their work.

You must ensure you choose the right team and enjoy your work — otherwise, you'll be stressed out. I handle stress by traveling and taking wellness days off.

4. You're lured by Big Tech perks rather than making a difference

With best-in-class benefits that most people can only dream about, it makes sense that some people are attracted to Big Tech for free food or health and fitness benefits. This is a mistake.

The perks exist to help you perform your best at work. If you join just for the sake of those, they can distract from your work's actual purpose and impact. They might also reduce the drive to improve and adapt, potentially hindering long-term career growth.

Initially, I went through a period where I was distracted by the perks. It was easy for me to keep socializing when eating office free food and then could fall behind on my work. I've learned to stay focused.

5. You're in it just to make a quick buck — not because you love coding and technology

Engaging in work that you don't find meaningful only for the money and benefits can quickly lead to feelings of dissatisfaction and disconnection — the so-called "golden handcuffs."

When your primary motivation is financial, you may miss out on the joy of solving problems or creating innovative solutions. My primary motivation is that I enjoy coding and love that my code is used by and helps billions of people.

I see myself working in Big Tech long-term. I love the impact I can make in this industry, enjoy the benefits and pay, and can envision long-term growth.

• Mike Manalac, a CPA, found audit work boring and unfulfilling, like he was a "glorified box-checker."
• He left public accounting for a more exciting career in Big Tech, as an accounting manager at Google
• Manalac now loves his work and perks at Google but he says Big Tech has some drawbacks.

After eight years as a certified public accountant, Mike Manalac decided to seek a more exciting career path — one in Big Tech.

Manalac, now 39, started his career as an auditor with CohnReznick, a top 20 firm, where he spent eight years. This was followed by a brief contract stint at Big Four firm PwC. From there, he took a path through the Fortune 500 with an accounting role at Walmart before landing an accounting role at Google.

"They say the grass isn't always greener, but in my case, it was," Manalac told Business Insider.

He was happy but found the work boring

For close to a decade, Manalac was happy working at big accounting firms — the business travel, meeting clients, and seeing the inner workings of different companies. "I liked the social events on the company dime, the generous vacation policy, top-notch training, and the team camaraderie that came with working together in the trenches," he said.

However, he found the audit work itself pretty boring — "mind-numbing grunt work," he called it. "I'd go through long periods where I felt like a glorified box-checker," Manalac said.

One of the worst parts of the job was completing timesheets — what he called the "never-ending chore" of tediously recording how he spent every six minutes of his workday.

Since the firms' clients only paid for the audit work because their investors and regulators required it, Manalac found the work unfulfilling. "I'd spend hours reviewing investment and loan documents for my banking clients, which felt like watching paint dry in PDF form," he said. It was even worse during the industry's busy season — January to April.

If Manalac was lucky, he'd get to work on an audit of what he considered to be a cool company, like real estate clients developing entertainment districts or clients that owned train lines and helicopters. But even then, he felt like he was on the outside looking in.

"I eventually realized that I'd be happier if I worked for that [kind of] company instead of auditing it," he said.

Getting a taste of the "cooler side" of accounting

Manalac decided to leave behind traditional accounting firms and instead pursue internal accounting roles in Fortune 500 companies, with the ultimate goal of securing a position in Big Tech.

In 2016, he kicked off his plan with a five-month contract position at PwC in San Francisco, to put himself "at the epicenter of premier job opportunities for when I was ready to change paths," Manalac said.

During that time, Manalac applied to dozens of roles in San Francisco and Silicon Valley — but only at household name companies that he thought "would be cool to work at." His interview list included Salesforce, Uber, and Pandora Media. He eventually accepted an offer to join Walmart's corporate accounting team, supporting the eCommerce business.

"This was the first time in my career where 40-hour workweeks were the norm, and it was glorious," he said. Manalac found the online shopping business "much more relatable" than his audit work.

"The company was on an acquisition spree, which meant a flurry of exciting accounting projects to work on," he said. "I had a sense of pride in my work that I didn't have at the big accounting firms."

With no more dreaded busy seasons or daily timesheets, Manalac was hooked. "At Walmart, I was busy, but everyone still left at 5 p.m. and the work environment was much more chill compared to public accounting," he said. "I'd gotten a taste for the cooler side of accounting and I wanted more.

Both the work and the perks are great

Big Tech was still on Manalac's radar, so he started interviewing for companies like Amazon, Meta, and Google. After a year of applying and messaging recruiters, he finally scored an interview at Google in the summer of 2017.

Two months and five rounds of interviews later, Manalac landed a job at Google, where he is now an accounting manager.

While he still spends his fair share of time in spreadsheets, he spends much of his time doing data analysis, writing SQL scripts, and building workflows to automate manual accounting processes. He spends less time doing repetitive tasks and more time working with cross-functional teams on new business initiatives.

"I get a kick out of working on products like Search, YouTube, and other apps that pepper my phone screen," Manalac said. "My success is no longer measured by billable hours like in public accounting either — it's measured by the impact of my work."

When he needs a break, some of Manalac's favorite on-campus options include hitting the gym, popping into the arcade, booking a massage, or hitting golf balls in the simulator.

Then, there are the extravagant work parties. "Museums are rented out for Christmas, concert venues for Halloween, and I've even had team outings that had me hopping on a plane for a day at Universal Studios," said Manalac.

And while he enjoyed domestic travel as an auditor, it's been overshadowed by his global travel experiences at Google to places like Singapore and Switzerland.

"The big accounting firms have generous PTO, but there are few companies outside of Google that would've allowed my three-month sabbatical to travel Europe with my family like I did in 2024," he said.

Accounting doesn't have to be a boring career path

Going from a Big Four accountant to one in Big Tech does have some drawbacks, though, said Manalac.

"In public accounting, you're almost guaranteed a promotion every few years, which isn't the case in Big Tech and other Fortune 500 companies," he said. "Additionally, when you work for an accounting firm, you're the golden goose that generates revenue for the company, but as an accountant in Big Tech, you're just a cost to the business." This means that accounting teams are "perpetually understaffed," he added.

But no job is perfect, and all things considered, Manalac feels that an accounting role in Big Tech offers one of the best career paths for an accountant.

"Most people think of accounting as a boring career, but that doesn't tell the whole story," he said.

If you landed a Big Tech after working in a different field and would like to share your story, email Jane Zhang at [email protected].

• Nicole Chan Loeb is a 38-year-old photographer, videographer, and mother of two.
• She started her career as a management consultant at Deloitte and quit after two years.
• As a photographer, she's able to be present for her family while doing work that she loves.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nicole Chan Loeb, a 38-year-old former Deloitte management consultant who quit in 2010 and is now a photographer and videographer in Boston. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I've always loved numbers and excelled at math, so I majored in finance in college. In my junior year, I took a business class that involved project-based work, igniting my passion for management consulting. After speaking with Deloitte representatives during an on-campus job fair, I applied and was accepted to an internship for the summer after my junior year.

I enjoyed the internship. I had a great team, lots of support, and a clear progression path within the company. At the end of the summer, I received a return offer, which I accepted.

As a first-generation child of immigrants, I felt like my parents came to the US so I could have these opportunities. I think they were excited and proud of me for studying finance, graduating, and landing a job like this. But that path didn't last for long.

I hated the exhausting hustle culture

I started working at Deloitte full-time in the fall of 2008 after graduating. My job required extremely long hours in what was known as the 3-4-5 program — three nights in a hotel, four days at a client site, and a fifth day back in the office. I flew to a client site every Monday, stayed through Wednesday night, and flew back to Boston on Thursday. It wasn't a good work-life balance.

I worked on three significant projects during my two years at Deloitte. Being between projects was called being "on the beach," which could hurt your utilization ratio, affecting raises and bonuses. We were expected to find projects to stay busy with, so I took on initiatives for the company like volunteering and writing white papers.

It was a hustle, churn-and-burn culture, and it was exhausting. I hated it, but was too shy to raise my concerns.

I overheard senior managers and partners airing their frustrations about lack of time with partners and families. Having a family and balance was something I wanted in the future, but I could see myself getting sucked in for the next 15 to 25 years, feeling financially comfortable but never having time to be home.

I also didn't feel much job satisfaction; despite having a lot of work, my impact felt insignificant. One particularly awful week, I thought to myself, I can't imagine feeling like this for the rest of my life.

I remember sitting in a Thai restaurant and telling my then-boyfriend, now-husband, about it. He said, "You're miserable. You're going to run yourself to the ground. Why don't you just leave?" He encouraged me to pursue photography as a career. Ever since I was young, I've loved photography, and with my Deloitte salary, I'd upgraded my gear and kit, but I'd never considered it as a career.

At first, I shrugged him off, but I started thinking more about it and eventually decided to take the leap. In August 2010, I put in my eight weeks' notice to give the company time to find a replacement and in October 2010, at 24 years old, I left Deloitte.

The fear of having to return to finance motivated me

During my eight-week notice period, I created a website, posted on social media, and gave out business cards at marketing and networking events on the Fridays and Saturdays I was home.

I made soft announcements to friends. Some were supportive and immediately referred me to friends and family, but others warned that I'd wasted my college education and that photography should stay a hobby or a side hustle.

I actually didn't tell my parents for the first couple of years. They'd worked so hard that for me to say, "Hey, I'm going to leave my very comfortable, stable job with benefits and a retirement plan to do my own thing" was terrifying.

I gave myself two years to replace my Deloitte salary. If I couldn't achieve this, I'd return to another corporate job and keep photography as a hobby. The fear of needing to return to finance if I couldn't make this work was a really strong motivator.

It took me several months to get my first clients. To get my name out there, I did free photoshoots and assisted established photographers. I poured kindness and passion into my first clients and asked them to give me honest feedback, and they returned my kindness with referrals.

I found that many skills I'd learned at Deloitte transferred over to my new career — active listening to client concerns, professional client communications, presentation skills, understanding what clients want, both spoken and unspoken, and bridging strategy and creativity.

After the first 18 months, I saw that it could be a sustainable career.

I'd never consider going back

I don't ever miss working in consulting and wouldn't consider returning to that fast-paced life, although I'm not sure if the culture has changed.

Being a wedding photographer allows me to be present for my family while doing work I love. I choose clients who align with my values and structure my schedule to be intentional with my time. I can pick my kids up from school every day, take midweek adventures, and never have to ask for permission to travel.

I love capturing small, unscripted emotions that couples and families will cherish forever. I don't regret anything, and I'm very grateful for my supportive partner who encouraged me to pursue this passion.

I'm thankful for the mentors that I had at Deloitte, who were terrific role models, endlessly brilliant, and supportive. I still use the skills they taught me today in my photography work, and I wouldn't be who I am today without the experience of working there.

I hope that the humility and kindness that drove my career forward haven't gone away. It's really cool that I can make a comfortable living by taking pictures, and I don't take that for granted.

Deloitte representatives did not respond to requests for comment.

If you quit a Big Four consulting firm to pursue a different career and would like to share your story, email Jane Zhang at [email protected].

• Keith Anderson transitioned from teaching to Big Tech in 2016 and boosted his salary significantly.
• He faced burnout in academia but soon learned Big Tech roles included some of the same challenges.
• Anderson learned to advocate for himself and manage his stress, and he now runs Career Alchemy.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Keith Anderson, a 36-year-old former English teacher and Big Tech worker who's now the founder of Career Alchemy in Greater Boston. It's been edited for length and clarity.

Within seven years, I transitioned from teaching English to working at Google, Uber, YouTube, Meta, DoorDash, and the weight-loss startup Calibrate. I was an individual contributor at Uber and Google, in design leadership roles at Meta and DoorDash, and in senior leadership at Calibrate.

As a university lecturer at the start of my career, I faced relentless anxiety about job insecurity and low pay. My passion for educating the next generation kept me going.

Once I moved into tech, my salary rose to seven times what I made as a teacher — from $30,000 to more than $200,000 a year, plus $150,000 in equity in one of my leadership positions — but at the cost of my mental health.

In 2015, I'd been teaching English for 8 years and was burned out

I became so burned out that I developed pneumonia, mainly due to exhaustion. While in the ICU, the university I worked for asked when I would be returning. This was a wake-up call, and I didn't return.

If I had continued teaching, I would also have had limited career growth. My salary wouldn't have increased much, and I would probably have needed to continue living in my rent-controlled apartment in San Francisco and would never have been able to buy my own place. That wasn't the life I wanted for myself.

I learned web development and graphic design to pivot to a new career

I attended a front-end-coding boot camp called Thinkful and took graphic-design classes at the Academy of Art University to hone a new skill set. I finally shifted to a new job in 2016: a contract position at Google.

A recruiter reached out about the opportunity, and both the recruiter and Google's hiring manager were impressed by my portfolio. My teaching background was also seen as an asset for a role with the customer-education team.

I stepped into a world of innovation and speed. I remember thinking, "This is it, I've made it," but I soon realized the pace at Google was a different beast.

Starting at Google was a rude awakening

Before I started, I'd seen this video about the resort-like experience Google employees had every day. It looked like heaven, and I dreamed of being a part of it.

I soon learned the resort-like experience I'd dreamed about was only a small part of Google culture. I hadn't considered that transitioning from academia to tech would require a major mindset shift.

The stress was familiar, but the context was entirely new. In academia, an average project typically lasted two to three months, which allowed time for thorough research and planning. At Google, a similar-sized project needed to be completed within a week. The focus shifted from perfection to effective execution, which was challenging but vital to success in the tech industry.

Also, before joining, I thought Big Tech companies were innovators not just in their products but also in their operations. When I saw it all up close, I realized that these organizations had many growing pains, like what I experienced in higher education. All of this stressed me out, just like higher education did.

From 2016 to 2018, I moved from Google to Uber to YouTube. From 2019 to 2021, I worked as a learning-design manager at Meta.

I had an epiphany during my time at Meta

During my time at Meta — amid the intensity of high-profile speaking opportunities at conferences and strategic planning — I had an epiphany: No matter what your job is, handling stress and anxiety in the workplace is within your control. The key is how you navigate and tackle it.

This realization changed everything for me. I began to advocate for myself more strongly at work, understanding that my happiness and mental well-being were in my own hands, not dictated by the prestige of my job or the company.

My approach to work transformed when I observed successful colleagues' behaviors. They would strategically evaluate requests and weren't afraid to say no when appropriate, always linking their decisions to key business metrics like revenue generation, cost savings, or efficiency improvements. This insight helped me shift from a people pleaser working 60-plus hours weekly to a strategic team player focused on impact.

Success isn't just about what you achieve but how you manage the journey

Stress is a part of any job, but it doesn't have to define your experience. My teaching and corporate roles taught me the importance of prioritization and built my resilience.

For those moving into tech, remember your unique background is an asset. You, not the company, can define what you do. Your health is more important than the bottom line of a large tech company like Meta or Google, and you need to prioritize it.

Last February, I left DoorDash and Big Tech entirely to focus on my career-coaching company I started working on part time in May 2022. While launching my business brought new challenges, my varied background equipped me well.

I'm now privileged to support hundreds of professionals through their career journeys. Every step of my journey, including the challenges, has contributed to who I am today.

Want to share your Big Tech experience? Email Lauryn Haas at [email protected].

• Elvi Caperonis overcame over 100 rejections to secure a role at a Big Tech company.
• She feels that her strong résumé played a major part in finally landing the role.
• She shares her advice for crafting a strong résumé, such as by highlighting metrics and technical skills.

Elvi Caperonis always wanted to work in Big Tech.

She graduated with a computer science degree in 2005, followed by a master's degree in software engineering, and she was drawn to the allure of having a job that was both challenging and financially rewarding — not to mention the enviable perks and prestige that came along with Big Tech companies.

"I aimed to work with intelligent people to build technologies that could positively impact the world," she told Business Insider. "I was very excited about the opportunity to learn about cutting-edge technologies like AI and machine learning."

In 2017, after six years of tech consulting work and over three years at Harvard University as a techno-functional reporting analyst, Caperonis landed a full-time job as a business intelligence engineer at a top-tier tech company — one of the Magnificent 7.

But landing the job was far from easy, and the process was highly competitive. "I faced many rejections that allowed me to grow and learn how to make it happen," said Caperonis, whose employment history has been verified by Business Insider.

Dealing with rejection after rejection

The disappointment began in 2012 when Caperonis applied for a job at a Fortune 500 company. With two degrees and several years of relevant experience, she believed she was an overqualified candidate and a perfect fit for the opportunity.

But when it came time to answer technical questions, "My mind went blank," said Caperonis, who spoke little English before moving to the US in 2011. "I knew the answers and could even picture the scenarios in which I'd used the technology, but I struggled to articulate my thoughts in English back then."

She was rejected.

As she persisted in her job search, Caperonis endured a series of rejections from prominent companies, including Stripe, Meta, Twitter, Oracle, Akamai Technologies, and many others in the tech industry. She estimates that over the course of five years of trying to land a Big Tech job, she received over 100 rejections.

"The rejections hurt a lot," she said. "Each one felt like a deep wound, momentarily leaving me heartbroken and hopeless."

What Caperonis found even more painful was often being ghosted by employers after submitting an application or even having an interview.

She never thought about giving up, though. "The weight of disappointment became a catalyst for growth," she said. She treated each application and interview as a way to gain insights about how to approach future opportunities.

She thought she failed again

Her job interview with one top tech company lasted about eight hours and included multiple rounds of behavioral questions. By the end of the day, she felt completely exhausted and feared she'd failed.

But the tides had turned. "When the recruiter called me with the good news, I could hardly believe it — I was so excited and happy," Caperonis said. "I realized my life was about to change."

She recommends that anyone interested in Big Tech be very prepared to showcase their accomplishments and proficiency through their résumé.

Here's the one she used, which she feels played a major part in landing the job:

A strong Big Tech résumé: Her 3 tips

1. Create a gateway to your brand

The professional profile summary at the top of the résumé is the first thing a recruiter will see, and it should be a carefully crafted gateway to your brand, said Caperonis. She noted it can "make or break your first impression."

"With just five seconds to capture a recruiter's attention, this section should be your unique value proposition — a chance to showcase your skills, experiences, and what sets you apart from other candidates," she said.

In her case, Caperonis highlighted her ScrumMaster certification, nearly a decade of experience, and principles of honesty, discretion, loyalty, and sincerity through which she could help a company achieve its goals.

2. Validate your capabilities

Caperonis believes that the work experience section of the résumé is the most important element for Big Tech, and she incorporated results and metrics to make hers more compelling.

Throughout this section, Caperonis added details to quantify her achievements — such as "designed over 300 reports" — to make the scope and impact of her work more tangible.

3. Create a platform to demonstrate your competence

The next most important section of your résumé is the technical skills section, in her opinion.

"I've seen that tech recruiters quickly skim through your résumé to see if you have the work experience required for the job, after they quickly review your 'tech stack' — the technologies and tools required for the job."

Caperonis's technical skills section for her Big Tech application included programming languages, project management tools, data analysis techniques, and interpersonal skills crucial for collaboration and communication within a team.

"My proficiency in business intelligence tools, such as Oracle Business Intelligence, and my prior work experience at Harvard University as a techno-functional reporting analyst were critical factors," in ultimately securing her role, she said.

What she'd do differently

Looking back, Caperonis believes she did a great job highlighting her experience and technical skills in her résumé. But if she were to revise it today, she'd showcase her accomplishments and proficiency better.

"I'd include more metrics that showcase the impact of my work in terms of money, time, and resources that I have helped companies save, instead of just plain statements about my responsibilities," she said.

She also regrets not being more meticulous about proofreading before submission, as her résumé ended up containing a few grammatical errors. "In this competitive market, candidates must ensure their résumés are polished and free of grammatical mistakes," she said.

To create a résumé that will help you stand out as a tech candidate, Caperonis said it's wise to use AI tools to analyze job descriptions, suggest relevant keywords, and format your résumé — but stressed the importance of having a person, such as a career coach, give your résumé a once-over before you submit it.

"I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to have the résumé reviewed and personalized by a real human," she said.

• Business Insider asked three software engineers to share key industry slang newcomers need to learn.
• Understanding tech slang helps new software engineers fit into their company's culture.
• Terms like rubber ducking and zero-day are crucial for effective communication in tech.

Software engineering has its own slang terms only heard in the industry. Business Insider polled three IT experts with computer and software engineering experience and/or education who collectively bring two decades of industry experience for a list of phrases newbies should familiarize themselves with before they join the industry.

Burak Özdemir, a software engineer with a bachelor's degree in computer engineering and a master's in informatics, has navigated plenty of tech lingo during his seven years in the industry.

"In our field, we use a vibrant mix of industry-specific terms and slang," Özdemir, the founder of the Character Calculator, told Business Insider. "These terms often capture complex concepts, tools, or experiences in a concise and sometimes amusing manner."

Özdemir said that for anyone aspiring to become a software engineer, knowing key terms and buzzwords not only helps in understanding conversations and documentation but also signifies you're part of the tribe, comfortable with its culture, and more likely to fit in:

1. Rubber ducking

Özdemir describes rubber ducking as "a surprisingly useful problem-solving method where you explain your code line by line to a rubber duck (or any inanimate object)."

He said this act of vocalization helps uncover flaws in logic that weren't apparent while working silently.

2. Bikeshedding, aka The Law of Triviality

"This refers to the phenomenon where disproportionate attention is given to trivial issues in software development, while more complex or crucial issues are overlooked," Özdemir said.

"It comes from the idea that people will debate the color of a bike shed while ignoring the design of the nuclear power plant it's meant to house."

3. Boilerplate

Boilerplate refers to sections of code that have to be included in many places with little or no alteration. "It's often seen as a necessary evil and a potential place for future optimization," Özdemir said.

4. Spaghetti code

Özdemir described spaghetti code as a disparaging term for software with a complex and tangled control structure — especially one using many GOTO statements, exceptions, threads, or other unstructured branching constructs. "It's a nightmare to read, debug, and maintain," he said.

5. Easter egg

An Easter egg in software engineering refers to a hidden feature or novelty the programmers have put in their software.

6. Refactoring

The process of rewriting existing code to improve its readability, structure, or performance without changing its behavior is known as refactoring.

"It's like tidying up your room," Özdemir said. "It doesn't make it any bigger, but it does make it easier to navigate."

Komal Fatima has a BS in computer software engineering and a master's in computer software technology. She currently works at Gaper, which hires remote software engineers, as a senior SEO manager. Although she is fairly new to the tech industry, with three years under her belt, she's had a crash course in the lingo.

Fatima's list includes rubber duck and bikeshedding as well, and she added these three industry slang terms and definitions:

7. Code smell

Code smell is poorly written or structured code that may contain bugs or inefficiencies.

8. Yak shaving

Getting sidetracked by unrelated tasks before addressing the original problem is also known as yak shaving.

9. Legacy code

Older, often outdated, software that requires maintenance and lacks proper documentation is called legacy code.

"There are so many slang terms which are specific to the software industry, I think it's impossible to exhaustively list them all," said Abhinav Upadhya, a seasoned engineer with expertise in robotics and automation who has a decade of industry experience and is currently a senior engineer at L&T Technology Services Limited.

Upadhyay founded the podcast search engine DrPawd and writes about programming in the newsletter Confessions of a Code Addict.

His list of terms for software industry newbies includes:

10. Duck typing

Also called dynamically typed languages, duck typing refers to a class of programming languages that don't have strict typing. "Basically, this means that if an object behaves like a duck, then it is probably a duck, but the language will not ensure or enforce that it is actually a duck," Upadhyay said.

"Such loose requirements make it easier to churn out code, however, at the cost of potential bugs and code readability." He added that many companies use these languages, such as Python, Ruby, and JavaScript, to name a few.

11. Bare metal

Bare metal, according to Upadhyay, usually refers to running the code directly on the hardware without using any virtualization or abstraction layers between the code and the hardware.

"It's commonly used in the embedded systems world, and if you decide to work in that domain, you should know this," he said.

12. RTFM

RTFM stands for "Read the Fucking Manual." "This is an old acronym, and you'll hear old-timers using this to point newcomers toward reading the documentation before asking questions," Upadhyay said.

13. KISS

Software engineers use another common acronym — KISS, for "Keep it Simple, Stupid" — as a guiding principle when designing code.

"The idea is that the design should be kept as simple as possible and delay introducing complexity as late as possible," Upadhyay said.

14. Magic numbers

People often need to use hard-coded numbers as parameters in their code — Upadhyay said software engineers refer to these as magic numbers.

"They usually use trial and error or guessing to arrive at good values for these numbers," he said. "However, they don't have a good explanation for why those work. Such hard-coded numbers in the code are usually called magic numbers because they work like magic as no one understands how they work."

He added that you may read the phrase magic number in industry textbooks or documentation and hear it used by other engineers.

15. Zero-day

The term zero-day refers to a security vulnerability that's unknown to the software vendor or developer.

"It's called zero-day because it's being actively exploited in the wild by the attackers before the developers have had zero days to fix it," Upadhyay said. "If working in the computer security area, this is a must-know term."

• A software engineer left a FAANG company for Oracle in 2024 due to a cultural mismatch.
• He felt micromanaged and a lack of trust at the FAANG company even though he worked intense hours.
• Oracle offered a structured onboarding process and a collaborative environment, and he plans to stay.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with a 27-year-old software engineer at Oracle who previously worked at a FAANG company. The source's name and full employment history are known to Business Insider but are not named to protect their privacy. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

In March 2022, I interviewed with a FAANG company for a software engineering role.

I heard back from my final round within a few days and started about three weeks after signing the offer. I didn't stay at the FAANG company very long because the culture was not a fit for me.

I'm now at Oracle and don't plan on leaving. Here's how my work experiences at both companies compare.

The FAANG company seemed more focused on personality fit during the interview process

After an HR screen and a tech screen, I had a final round of four interviews back-to-back, each lasting 45 minutes. Three interviewers were senior engineers, and one was the hiring manager.

The personality questions were more detailed than the technical questions. They wanted to know if I demonstrated the company's leadership principles, so they asked questions like "Can you tell me about a time you affected change in a company?" and "Can you tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a customer?"

The technical questions were on standard LeetCode and system design. I was asked to whiteboard and design a service similar to Instagram and discuss how I'd engineer it to scale to a billion users.

The FAANG company sought candidates willing to work long hours

The interviewers didn't ask directly how long I was willing to work, but they asked: "Tell me about a time when you had to meet an aggressive deadline." The hiring manager also told me the team I'd be joining was fairly new and wanted to roll out the technology they were developing quickly.

I did notice a few more red flags. Everyone I interviewed with had joined within the past year and a half. Most folks I interviewed with at Oracle had been at the company for four to six years.

One of the senior engineers at the FAANG company said it's fast-paced and has a work-hard culture, so there's a lot of turnover. However, I'd also get to learn a lot and work on features that millions of customers would use, and I was looking forward to that experience.

My Oracle interview process took longer

I interviewed with Oracle in February 2024 and started in March.

The steps were the same, but the Oracle process focused more on technical ability than the FAANG company.

In the final round, I was interviewed by two senior engineers, the hiring manager, and a product manager. The senior engineers and my hiring manager also asked me standard LeetCode and system design questions. My hiring manager asked if I had data center experience, which I didn't. The product manager asked me to go deep into the technical stuff I previously worked on.

The offer negotiation process was pretty similar for both companies

Both times, I had competing offers and asked them to match compensation. They matched it by increasing the amount of vested stock they'd give me, and I got a 10% total compensation increase from both.

Oracle's RSU vesting is spread evenly across four years. At the FAANG company, the four-year stock vest schedule was 5% for year one, 15% for year two, 40% for year three, and 40% for year four.

After my first year at the FAANG company, I received a 3% raise on my base pay. I haven't received a raise at Oracle yet.

I found Oracle's onboarding process to be much more structured

The initial few weeks at both companies were spent getting access to code bases, familiarizing myself with the teams' work, and having a lot of 1:1 meetings.

At Oracle, everyone helped explain the organization's overall mission. The team had an onboarding document that I could follow that outlined expectations.

There was no structure or clear expectations in the first few weeks at the FAANG company. Management also didn't focus much on helping people get onboarded.

My FAANG coworkers seemed very focused on their level of seniority

Almost every single engineer I met in my first week at the FAANG company either asked me a question about how I could help them get a promotion or was very closed off and wouldn't communicate much. One midlevel engineer asked me in our first meeting whether I'd be open to being "mentored" by him so he could use me as a data point to support his coming promotion.

Another engineer I met with told me, "That is between me and my manager," when I asked him about his long-term career goals during our first meeting. I asked my skip-level manager a question about the team, and he told me my question was better suited for a lower-level manager, not him.

At Oracle, everyone was friendly and gave me information and advice on succeeding.

Oracle has a sense of teamwork and collaboration that the FAANG company did not have

In my experience, micromanagement is virtually nonexistent at Oracle. Management and executives allow engineers and other contributors to set their own deadlines and expectations. I felt trusted.

The culture at the FAANG company was one of the most intense I've been part of. My teammates and I regularly worked until late into the night, and there was lots of micromanagement, which is one of the reasons I left. It felt like there was a lack of trust in lower-level employees.

It affected both my mental and physical health. My sleep pattern was chaotic, and I skipped a lot of meals because of the constant stress and anxiety.

Since I left the FAANG company for Oracle, I haven't looked back

The final straw was when the FAANG company asked me to relocate to a different state with three-months notice. I told my manager I'd move but immediately started searching for external jobs.

I got my Oracle offer shortly after. When I finally gave my two weeks' notice at the FAANG company, I felt a huge weight lifted off my chest.

Changing companies improved my mental health, and my stress levels dropped dramatically. I plan to stay at Oracle long-term.

Want to share your Big Tech job experience? Email Lauryn Haas at [email protected].

• Founding partner Alex Witt shared three venture capital predictions for the next decade.
• Witt says that managers who've launched less than three funds will get more attention.
• He also says that five key technologies and the African market will see more investments.

Since venture capital funds plummeted from 2021 to 2023, VCs are looking for ways to stop the pain and regain a sense of control over their future. Still, many VCs predict the industry will significantly decline in 2025 due to high interest rates.

Alex Witt, general partner at Verda Ventures and cofounder of the payment platform SWFT Blockchain agrees with recent predictions. Based on his 14 years of experience in finance and technology, Witt also gave Business Insider three more core predictions for the VC industry's next decade.

He believes technological opportunity combined with changing demographics will shape the VC experience over the next 10 years, creating more investment space for emerging managers, five key technologies, and Africa.

1. Emerging managers will drive the highest returns in the next decade

As limited partners recognize that successful Fund 1s don't necessarily translate into successful Fund 2s or 3s, the VC landscape will see a greater focus on new managers who've launched less than three funds.

"Emerging managers have been traditionally underfunded despite their success," Witt explained.

For context, Witt explained that larger funds have a track record of underperforming: only 17% of funds larger than $750 million return over 2.5 times of capital. Yet smaller funds have been proven to consistently outperform.

"Funds under $249 million are disproportionately represented in the top decile and quartile of performers," he said. Witt explained that targeting smaller, high-performing funds will be critical for future success.

2. VCs have an unprecedented chance to back five transformative technologies

According to Witt, we're entering a new "industrial renaissance" fueled by breakthroughs in five key technologies he believes have massive VC potential.

• Generative AI: Witt predicts that key players in this arena will be companies with unique datasets, such as Google with YouTube data and xAI with X and Tesla data. Generative AI will even affect the finance and pharmaceutical industries.

  "Some impacts of generative AI to watch for include drug discovery with even faster trials and finance with real-time, data-driven trading.

• Robotics: Witt pointed to innovations like generative AI-driven physical AI — for example, Nvidia — and referenced Tesla. "Market leader Tesla is positioned to dominate this area with its 'robots on wheels' approach to manufacturing."
• Autonomous electric vehicles: Witt said Chinese carmaker BYD stands out as a global leader in data access and scalable manufacturing. "In terms of cost impact, more than 70% of Uber ride costs are labor-related, and autonomous transport will significantly reduce expenses," he said.
• Blockchain: Accessibility is an area to watch in blockchain. Witt said blockchain enables low-cost, borderless transactions, and more markets are using it. "For example, MiniPay, the #1 app in Kenya, surpassed Facebook and Instagram in downloads."
• Biotech: As an emerging technology, Witt explained that gene-based therapies offer precision treatments for inherited or environmental genetic abnormalities. "As examples, Moderna's mRNA success foreshadows the broader potential of CRISPR and similar technologies," he said.

"This era is reminiscent of the early 20th century's transformative, broad-based innovations like electricity and the internal combustion engine," Witt said. For VCs, Witt believes the coming decade marks a rare chance to back category-defining companies in emerging industries — but he emphasized that success won't come easy.

"VCs will face the challenge of identifying category-defining winners," Witt said. "As history shows, industries tend to consolidate around one or two dominant players, with only a small fraction of companies emerging as leaders — think Amazon and Google among the dot-com era's 500 IPOs."

3. Africa and the Global South will lead in VC-backed innovation

Beyond technology, Witt stressed that demographics are a critical and often overlooked factor shaping VC trends. He projects that population dynamics will increasingly determine the locations where innovation thrives.

"Demographics are destiny," Witt said.

He predicts that VCs will increasingly allocate capital to the Global South, particularly Africa, due to its "explosive" consumer and market growth potential.

"This shift will redefine traditional portfolio strategies, emphasizing demographic-driven investments," Witt said.

As support for his prediction, Witt noted that Africa leads global population growth, and that all of the top 20 fastest-growing populations are in the Global South.

He added that countries with aging populations and declining birth rates, such as Korea, with a fertility rate of 0.68, face a shrinking workforce and reduced appetite for risk and technological adoption.

In contrast, he believes that regions like Africa, with a fertility rate of 4.18, offer a young, growing population and expanding market potential.

"This is why some VCs are betting on the Global South as the next frontier for innovation and growth," Witt concluded. "Large populations equal large markets, and big markets mean that one or two successful companies can offset eight or nine failures, which is critical for VC success."

If you're a VC who would like to share your thoughts on the industry, please email Manseen Logan at [email protected].

• Damola Adamolekun, CEO of Red Lobster, shares three books that influenced his career in 2024.
• Adamolekun was formerly CEO of P.F. Changs, which he helped generate $1 billion in revenue a year.
• He describes "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius as a timeless guide to leading.

At 35, Damola Adamolekun is the youngest CEO of Red Lobster of all time. The former Goldman Sachs investment banker and Harvard Business School alum was appointed CEO in August, just months after the seafood chain filed for bankruptcy.

Investors are likely hoping Adamolekun will recreate the restaurant resurgence he accomplished during his tenure as CEO of P.F. Changs from 2019 to 2023, during which he helped the struggling chain generate an estimated $1 billion in revenue a year.

The Nigerian-American businessman shared with Business Insider the three books that helped him navigate his career in 2024.

Business Insider: What three books have shaped your career and leadership this year?

1. "Unreasonable Hospitality" by Will Guidara

Damola Adamolekun: "Unreasonable Hospitality" by Will Guidara is a masterclass in creating memorable experiences through relentless care and attention to detail.

Guidara's approach to hospitality isn't just about service — it's about going above and beyond to make people feel valued. The idea of "over-delivering" resonated deeply with me, reminding me that exceptional hospitality, like exceptional leadership, often lies in the thoughtful, unexpected gestures that leave a lasting impact.

Whether in a restaurant or the boardroom, this book is a compelling reminder that relationships and culture are built on doing the little things with great intention.

2. "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius

"Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius is a timeless guide to leading with wisdom, resilience, and humility.

Marcus's reflections on discipline and self-mastery have shaped how I approach challenges — focusing on what I can control and letting go of what I can't. His emphasis on serving the greater good is a powerful reminder that leadership is ultimately about responsibility, not power.

This book's enduring relevance lies in its ability to ground leaders in principles that foster clarity and purpose, even amid chaos.

3. "The Winner Within: A Life Plan for Team Players" by Pat Riley

"The Winner Within: A Life Plan for Team Players" by Pat Riley is a motivational book that shares leadership lessons and teamwork strategies, using stories from his NBA coaching career to inspire individuals and organizations to achieve success through unity, resilience, and continuous improvement.

As a former college athlete at Brown University, this book's story of perseverance, adaptability, and ambition echoes the mantra that I've carried from the football field into the boardroom as a CEO.

This story is part of an end-of-year reading list series that seeks to highlight the best books influential CEOs and business leaders read in 2024.

Correction: December 27, 2024 — An earlier version of this story listed incorrect publishers for the "Meditations" and "The Winner Within" book covers.

• Regina Grogan is a tech exec who says high stress once impacted her mental health and relationships.
• Grogan has developed nine daily habits that help her reduce stress and increase productivity.
• Grogan's methods include cold plunges, meditation, and gratitude lists for better mood.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Regina Grogan, a Zillennial technology executive, AI founder, and former Google consultant based in Salt Lake City. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I worked in high-stress Silicon Valley for over 10 years, including as a Google consultant, before transitioning to being an associate security engineer at one of the largest banks.

Working in the tech industry is stressful — it has extreme volatility, which has led me to feel anxious and depressed in the past. I've seen tech startups shut down very suddenly with zero discussion. I've also worked in big companies undergoing layoffs and wondered, "Am I next?"

High stress also impacted my relationships. My work took up a lot of my personal time, so I wasn't able to build as many relationships as I wish I had.

Over the years, I've discovered hacks to mitigate stress, boost my mood, and increase productivity. These are my favorites.

1. Cold plunge

I take a 15 to 20-minute ice bath or cold shower every morning. The first five minutes are awful and shocking. Then I acclimate to it, and it actually feels really good.

During the plunge, I feel extremely alert, the world looks brighter, and when I emerge, everything feels like a new beginning.

2. Meditation

I was very addicted to my digital devices until I noticed it was severely affecting my mental clarity and focus. Now I try to stay off my phone as much as possible in the morning, and instead, meditate for 25 minutes.

Ever since I made the switch, my mind has become quieter and I feel reset from the attention obsession that my digital devices create.

3. Increase my bodily awareness

I've realized I have to create balance in life by tuning into my body and intuition for guidance. I now listen more to my instincts.

One time, I was working on a partnership and felt physically uneasy while reviewing the terms. Looking back, I realize I was sensing a subconscious resistance in my body about this partnership, which ended up going south.

4. Take a walk without my phone

I often use my phone as an anxiety and comfort tool. The only way I've had luck mitigating this anxiety is by leaving my phone at home, coming back, and seeing that nothing horrible has happened.

5. Think about what I can and can't control

Let's say a vendor messes up a project, or the intern accidentally gets spam-attacked and is freaked out. Instead of panicking, I use the psychological strategy of the "circle of control," asking myself, "What can I control in this stressful situation?"

If the answer is nothing, I have to let it go.

6. Ask myself, "How can I help others today?"

Doing small acts of kindness helps me take the focus off of myself and redirect my energy toward helping others. This can be helping someone at work, volunteering, or simply letting someone in front of me in traffic.

At the end of the day, I can say, "Today didn't go super well, but I did something in my control to improve things."

7. Make a list of what I'm grateful for

I live a privileged life, and it's easy to forget how hard life is for many other people. In my case, I used to have depression. I've seen bad days, but it's easier to forget when I make a gratitude list.

When I zoom out, I can see how lucky I am and that I have a lot to be thankful for.

8. Epsom salt bath

Every evening, around 9 p.m., I take a hot Epsom salt bath. Epsom salt regulates the nervous system and also staves off loneliness — or so they found in some studies.

I do this as a "day ender" to help me officially close out the day. Otherwise, I'll keep working into the night.

9. Write down my worries and wait to review them

Before I go to sleep at 10 p.m., I write down everything I'm worrying about as a "brain dump." I put it in a box and revisit it a week later to see how many of them came to pass.

Almost none of them do. Over time, I've gained more confidence and calmness.

Ever since I started using these hacks, I've been in a great mood and more productive than ever

My colleagues always talk about my energy and good mood. These hacks allow me to be creative and productive at work, even in a stressful environment.

If you work in Big Tech and have productivity hacks you'd like to share, please email Tess Martinelli at [email protected].

• Amy Zhang has faced five core struggles since quiet quitting her corporate job to start a business.
• Zhang says navigating the current economy and finding the right clients were among the roadblocks.
• Zhang says entrepreneurship involves making mistakes, but it has redefined her idea of success.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Amy Zhang, a 31-year-old founder based in New York City. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I spent eight months "quiet quitting" my corporate job, which started in June 2022. I then launched a company focused on growing small businesses. I've developed an appreciation for all the ways people can become successful.

But my learning hasn't come without issues. These are the five biggest struggles I've experienced since actually quitting and starting my own business, and what to keep in mind if you're considering it.

1. You have to be able to work alone for days on end

The transition from working with a team to being completely independent has been isolating. The socialization that used to be guaranteed is now a task that falls completely on me, and sometimes I don't leave my house for days.

Being an entrepreneur requires hustle and struggle, which makes it tough for me to put my computer down and stop working.

I make sure to maintain my routine at my gym, where I have a group of people I talk to. I also try to say "yes" to invitations from friends even if it's easier to say no and keep working.

2. You must be prepared for stress, mistakes, and ambiguity

When I started my venture, I realized I was the only one to blame for poor decision-making. The pressure to not make any mistakes plagued me in the beginning, so I've been learning to forgive myself.

One of the biggest mistakes I made was figuring out what tools and technology systems to spend money on and when to make the purchase. I purchased based on referrals and quickly learned that buying tech solutions too soon and solely based on recommendations can be a waste of money.

I also made the mistake of subscribing to annual contracts for discounts. Looking back, I realize the flexibility to cancel month-to-month contracts would've been more financially responsible.

Despite these mistakes, I know that having patience with myself is important for not burning out and giving up.

3. The economy is different now than five years ago

I've noticed that those who started their business five years ago relied heavily on networks and word of mouth to jump-start their companies.

In my experience, right now, I feel like prospective clients need more convincing, touchpoints, and trust to go into business with someone. I've been able to show my commitment through time spent, being active and responsive, and through action — putting my money where my mouth is.

4. Clients might want more time

I thought working as a consultant would benefit companies — it's cheaper for them to hire me with part-time pay, the ability to cancel at any time, and no health insurance. However, many businesses hesitated to work with me because they wanted full ownership of my time.

Don't get me wrong — the clients I work with now are awesome and completely get it. They like having the flexibility and quality of work at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.

There's just something about having full control over an employee that I think some businesses still latch onto.

5. Others will try to rank you by title

There's a social bubble — especially in the corporate world — that defines success by titles, promotions, and company prestige.

Even in social circles at events and parties, when I was introduced to someone, the default second question after asking my name was, "So what do you do for a living?" That question used to feel like a way to rank myself among my peers.

Since quitting and starting my own business, I've realized there isn't just one way to be successful, happy, or make money.

If you've "quiet quit" your corporate job and would like to share your story, please email Tess Martinelli at [email protected].

• Mike Manalac has worked in the tech hubs of San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Chicago since 2016.
• He says each place has its strengths, but Chicago is the best place for raising a family.
• Chicago offers Manalac and his family the perfect balance career, affordability, and family life.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Mike Manalac, a 39-year-old accounting manager at Google. It's been edited for length and clarity.

Over the past eight years, I've worked in the tech scenes of San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Chicago. The three places couldn't be more different in terms of lifestyle, and they've each appealed to me for different reasons.

Here's how the three places compare:

San Francisco is fun but not for the faint of heart

I moved to San Francisco in 2016 to pursue world-class career opportunities and adventure. I'd spent the past eight years as an audit manager in Baltimore and the cross-country move was a big change for me.

As someone with ambitious career goals, San Francisco was the mecca of opportunity, so I joined PwC to get closer to Bay Area tech jobs. Some of the world's most innovative companies were basically next door, and their corporate headquarters lined the city's blocks like Lego bricks.

I once interviewed at Salesforce's headquarters while on my lunch break since it was only a few blocks away from PwC. When doing phone screens for Uber, Twitter, and Dolby, I knew I'd be able to walk over to their offices for an on-site interview at a moment's notice.

As a young professional with limited life responsibilities, San Francisco turned out to be the perfect place to live fast and loose. The social scene was amazing — a night out for drinks could mean stopping by a speakeasy with no sign, sipping a mai tai on a floating tiki bar, or drinks served from a bathtub at a bar the size of a walk-in closet.

San Francisco also has the best park scene in the country; I've yet to find a better party than a regular Saturday afternoon at Dolores Park.

It's also a walkable city. For the first time in my adult life, I was car-free. The city was full of trendy coffee shops, unique bars and restaurants, and charming neighborhoods to explore.

But living in San Francisco also isn't for the faint of heart. Outside of coworkers, my then-fiancée (and now wife) and I found it incredibly challenging to make friends; everyone seemed to assign others a level of importance based on where they lived and worked. I also would've needed an absurd amount of wealth to purchase a home and raise a family there.

I felt that the city's biggest blemish, though, was the seedy Tenderloin district, which sits smack dab in the middle of downtown. I had to walk through the neighborhood to catch a corporate shuttle bus to work, and I saw my fair share of sketchy characters and shady dealings at the time.

Silicon Valley's career opportunities were unmatched

Later that year, I started working in Silicon Valley after I joined Walmart's eCommerce division in San Bruno. And the following year, I landed a job as an accounting manager at Google's Sunnyvale campus.

Silicon Valley offers the coolest places to work and its career opportunities are unmatched. I was amazed by the sprawling corporate campuses. Walking through Facebook's invite-only campus, which is like a walled garden city, and down its main street, Hacker Way, I was in awe. In nearby Mountain View, I couldn't believe how nearly every building in the city was branded with Google's logo.

I saw corporate buses and colorful bikes whizzing around and young professionals with corporate badges on their hips and branded backpacks on their backs.

While Silicon Valley may be the tech capital of the world, I'd never live there. For one thing, I couldn't afford it; the cookie-cutter neighborhoods of Silicon Valley are reserved for millionaires and the hillside mansions for billionaires. I, on the other hand, commuted from San Francisco via corporate shuttle bus.

But I wouldn't have wanted to live there anyway. The social scene was dead, the city wasn't walkable, and the nightlife was nonexistent. Nobody I knew went to happy hour after work, restaurants closed early, and most people only lived there because of the proximity to work.

Chicago has a down-to-earth social scene and affordable, family-friendly neighborhoods

I moved to Chicago with my wife in 2019, transferring to Google's Chicago office. The cost of living in Chicago was much cheaper, my commute would be shorter, and we'd be closer to her family in Michigan and mine in Maryland.

Chicago doesn't have the buzzy tech scene or beautiful weather of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, but it's no slouch when it comes to career opportunities. More Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Chicago than in almost every other city in the US, and the job opportunities are much more diverse than what you'll find in the tech-centric San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

From Google's office in Chicago's West Loop, I can see McDonald's global headquarters down the street and a number of other premier employers dotting the city skyline.

Chicago is a city that likes to party, making San Francisco look sleepy by comparison. Bars don't close until 2 a.m., with some staying open until 4 a.m. Chicago's Lake Michigan beach scene is much livelier than that of San Francisco. But the social scene also has a down-to-earth vibe; people are Midwest nice and seem to live at a more casual pace.

The best part about Chicago is the moderate cost of living. I was able to afford a three-unit home with rental potential in Chicago for $830,000 — a price I'd never find in San Francisco — that's in a walkable neighborhood. It's the perfect blend of family-friendly city life. Our three-year-old son loves taking the train home from daycare and running wild at one of the city's many playgrounds.

I think Chicago is the best of the three places to start a family

After working in these three awesome places, I've realized that even the best cities have their flaws.

San Francisco has the coolest social scene and overall vibe, but it's one of the worst cities for settling down because of its high costs.

Silicon Valley offers the best career opportunities, but its social scene is lacking since everything there is about work, work, work.

Chicago is the best of the three locations to start a family due to its affordability and comfortable pace of life, but it's not quite as cool as San Francisco and can't match the career opportunities offered in Silicon Valley.

Overall, though, it's hard to beat Chicago's mix of career opportunities, vibrant social scene, and opportunities to start a family.

If you've moved around for work and would like to share your experiences of different cities, email Jane Zhang at [email protected].

• Alex Li lives in Dover, Delaware, which is 55 miles from where his wife and daughter reside.
• Spending time away from his family so that he could work on his startup has led to guilt and regret.
• Rather than fixating on those feelings, Li focuses on what he can do to be there for his family.

As a 34-year-old founder, husband, and dad, Alex Li is away from his family more than he'd like to be. He lives in Dover, Delaware, where his AI education company is based, while his nine-year-old daughter and his wife live 55 miles away in Wilmington, Delaware with his wife's parents.

Li decided to live in Dover because the daily commute between the two cities would be over two hours, which isn't feasible given his workload.

"Although my family is very supportive of my work and understands the fact that I have to leave home for work, I still often feel very sorry and guilty," Li said.

He was only able to return home occasionally in the launch years

Li launched his company StudyX in 2021. "It was a very hard time," he said, as he worked until 2 or 3 a.m. every day while trying to find investors and grow his team. "Apart from sleeping and eating, almost all of my time was devoted to this project," Li said. "Even though Wilmington and Dover aren't far apart, it was still hard for me to make time for my family."

At the time, his daughter was in kindergarten. His wife, who worked remotely for around 20 hours a week and had more flexibility, shouldered the childcare with the help of her parents.

During those launch years, Li was only able to make the hourlong drive home once every week or two for about half a day and on holidays.

"I could only work harder to complete the project as soon as possible, while also ensuring that my family didn't have to worry too much about the finances," he said.

Video updates helped, but guilt would still flare up

To help bridge the gap, his wife sent him daily video updates of their daughter. "My daughter was really cute, and she sometimes sang me her newly learned nursery rhymes," Li said. He would squeeze in time during lunch or dinner to reply and sometimes send short videos or pictures back to them.

But when Li's daughter asked him when he'd be coming home, when he could pick her up from school, or if he could stay at home for a few more days on his next visit, his feelings of guilt flared up.

"Every time my wife sent me messages telling me our kid had made a new friend at kindergarten or learned some new words, I got a complex feeling of happiness, guilt, and regret," Li said.

Men should take on more family responsibilities, Li said

Some of Li's male friends didn't understand why he felt guilty. "The traditional idea that men leave home for work to earn money and women stay at home and take care of children is still deeply rooted in some Asian cultural backgrounds," Li said.

Once, when Li told a friend how he felt terrible for being unable to do something with his daughter, his friend said she would understand and be grateful once she was older.

Although Li appreciated the friend's attempt at comfort, "it sounded like an excuse to avoid facing the situation," Li said.

Li feels that men should take on more family and childcare responsibilities. When he's home, he helps tackle household chores and prioritizes quality time with his daughter.

If his wife needs a break, Li's daughter stays with him in Dover while his wife takes a vacation. "I'll bring my daughter to the office and spend all day together," Li said. "All of our team members know that we're 24/7 inseparable best friends."

Actions speak louder than guilt

Rather than being caught up in guilt and the mental whiplash of his situation's shortcomings, Li focuses on what he can do.

For example, he made good on a promise to bring his daughter to Universal Studios Singapore on his first day after finishing a big project. "My daughter was incredibly excited since it had been years since we traveled together as a family," Li recalled.

His favorite memory was watching the sunset at the beach after their day at Universal. "There's something special about those quiet, uninterrupted moments together as a family," he said. "We could just be present with each other."

While Li still feels bad about the time he's missed with his family, he's committed to making more time for them and has promised his daughter that they'll travel abroad together every year. This year, they took a trip to Spain.

"I make sure to write down promises to my daughter to keep track, so I don't forget in the midst of a busy schedule," Li said.

He now has more time to spend with his family

After three years of around-the-clock work, Li's startup has grown and his team has expanded, giving him a lighter workload and more flexibility. While he's still based in Dover, he's been spending more time with his family over the past two months, working remotely from home in Wilmington several days a week.

"While I still need to work regularly with my team in Dover, I can now guarantee two or three days a week to go home to Wilmington and spend time with my family," Li said. "There, I can take on the responsibilities of being a son, husband, and father."

He's been able to be more involved in responsibilities like picking his daughter up from school, helping with homework, and looking after his wife's parents. He also has more quality time to spend with his wife. "If she faces any challenges, she no longer has to handle them on her own," Li said. "We can share the load and support each other."

Li isn't certain how well this ideal schedule will work, as he still needs to have some in-person meetings, has to travel to meet with team members and users based globally, and knows he'll have busy work periods in the future.

"All in all, no matter what changes my career will have, I'll try to squeeze more time to be with my family," he said.

For others in his situation, Li's advice is to focus on actions rather than thoughts. "We all feel guilty or sorry for not spending time with our families, but more importantly, we need to take action to make up for it," Li said.

If you struggle with parental guilt as you balance family with career and would like to share your story, email Jane Zhang at [email protected].