Why I Left My Tech Career Without a Backup Plan

What happens when you realize the ladder you're climbing isn't yours?

@yiannie.lu

Annie Lu | Your Burnout BFF on Instagram: "I quit my job in big…

Two weeks ago, I left my six-figure corporate tech job in product marketing - without another offer lined up. It was a difficult but intentional decision, made after a lot of reflection during a recent leave from work due to burnout. After spending 10 years working my way up in tech, I knew it was time to pivot and explore a new chapter in my career.

Leaving a well-paying job might seem risky, especially in today’s job market with widespread layoffs and AI-driven cost-cutting. But for me, the decision wasn’t impulsive. It was a deliberate move grounded in clarity and a commitment to trust my intuition. I’m taking a leap to bet on myself.

Here’s why I chose to walk away from my tech career without a backup plan:

Closing my chapter in big tech with clarity and gratitude 💙

1. Corporate doesn’t align with my long-term life goals

Growing up, my dream was to 1) become a published writer and 2) be my own boss. Nowhere on that list was “work in corporate,” but I chose that path because it was the conventional route to a stable, comfortable lifestyle. As an immigrant child, stability and a predictable income were top priorities. That’s what led me to tech, an industry that was known for high pay and good work-life balance.

I always knew I would leave corporate eventually; the question was just when. Corporate life offered safety: a steady paycheck, great benefits, and a clear ladder to climb. And when you’re surrounded by smart people working on interesting problems, it can be a good path. But in recent years, as companies face pressure to cut costs and race to adopt AI, that safety has come at a cost: intensified performance pressure, poor management, and constant whiplash from reorgs and shifting priorities.

After going through burnout, I realized the perks of corporate life weren’t worth sacrificing my well-being. If I want to build a balanced life and spend my time on work I find meaningful, my career needs to align with that vision. This has become even more important as I start thinking about the kind of life I want to create, especially if I’m planning to start a family someday. The corporate path just isn’t sustainable for me anymore, not in a world where companies are increasingly prioritizing profits and performance over people and integrity.

2. I’m (close to) hitting my ceiling in corporate

There are generally two types of people who thrive in the corporate world:

1. Those who excel at office politics and have strong internal advocates

2. Those who are so exceptional at their craft that they become indispensable

I am neither of those people. I hate spending my energy on navigating politics (to my own detriment), and B2B SaaS is not my passion (is it anyone’s?). Like many high performers, I’m competent and I do great work - but I’m not seen as indispensable, especially in an economy where companies are cutting costs and laying off top talent.

There are also more barriers to succeeding in corporate America as an introverted Asian woman. I’ve had my fair share of disappointing experiences - times when I was overlooked or underestimated because of my working style or personality, rather than the quality of my work. It’s hard to thrive in a system where success often hinges on factors you can’t fully control - like landing a supportive manager, getting staffed on a high-impact project, or having the right people notice your work.

3. I’ve unblocked limiting beliefs that used to hold me back

Even though I’ve known for a while that I had a ceiling in corporate, I used to believe I couldn’t make a change until I had everything planned out. I thought I needed to be certain of the next step before I could take it. But that need for control came from fear - from not fully trusting that I had the skills to navigate the unknown.

During my leave, I did a lot of inner work. I confronted the imposter syndrome and perfectionism that had kept me playing small. And I started to reframe my story.

The truth is, I’ve built a valuable and diverse set of experiences:

• Drove 50% of company revenue as top-performing sales

• Co-founded and led sales & marketing at a VC-backed startup

• Launched new products and go-to-market initiatives at scale in big tech

And beyond the resume bullets, I know who I am:

• A deep thinker, intuitive creator, and authentic storyteller

• A fast learner and creative problem solver with a track record of building from 0-1

• A big-picture visionary who spots patterns, connects dots, and gets shit done

After 10 years of building skills, leading projects, and shipping results, it’s time to trust that I can apply all of that to something new.

4. Life is short and the future will always be uncertain, so better leap now than later

Burnout gave me the harsh but necessary reminder: time is our most valuable resource. We spend the majority of our lives working, so why not spend that time doing something that makes us feel alive and purposeful?

I also believe we’re at a major inflection point. With AI disrupting industries and the economy in flux, we’re entering a new era where the way we work will fundamentally change. While corporations scramble to adopt AI and stay relevant, the same technology is lowering the barrier to entry for individuals, making it easier than ever to start something of your own. I don’t want to wait for change to happen to me - I want to embrace it and explore the possibilities now. After all, as the saying goes: with disruption comes opportunity.

Even if this leap doesn’t go exactly as planned, I know I’ll walk away with new experiences, a deeper understanding of myself, and a great story to tell. That’s the beauty of enjoying the journey instead of chasing after the result.

Life is too short to wait for the “perfect” moment. If you already have an idea or a dream in mind - start now.

So what’s next?

Here’s what I’ll be focusing on in the coming months:

• Returning to my first passion: writing and art. Writing has always been a lifeline during my lowest moments, and I believe it has the power to heal, connect, and inspire. In a world full of noise and division, I want to share honest reflections that resonate and spark connection.

• Helping creatives in corporate unblock their full potential. I know I’m not alone in feeling stifled and burnt out in corporate. I want to create a space for people who are ready to define success on their own terms and build lives that truly align with who they are.

• Pursuing a portfolio career that leverages my diverse skillset. This includes exploring freelance projects, fractional work, or collaborations where I can bring my experience in GTM strategy and product storytelling. If you know someone looking for that - let’s talk.

I’ll be building in public, iterating as I go, and learning to embrace uncertainty and imperfection. I’ll also be documenting the journey here - for myself, and for anyone who might need a nudge to take their own leap when the time feels right.

Let me know if any of this resonates. And if there’s a topic you’d like me to dive deeper into, drop a comment or reply!

---