- In February, Jean Kang left a $300,000 Big Tech job to become a solopreneur.
- Kang leveraged her LinkedIn brand and coaching to cross $100,000 in revenue within five months.
- She also runs a six-week cohort to help aspiring program managers land jobs at $4,000 a person.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jean Kang, a 31-year-old former senior program manager in San Francisco. It's been edited for length and clarity.
I fell into Big Tech because I wanted to be surrounded by innovation and see Silicon Valley's rise firsthand. Over the past decade, I've had seven roles at startups and dream companies like Meta, Pinterest, Intuit, and LinkedIn.
I didn't know what I wanted to do for the first five years of my career, so I pivoted from sales to account management, customer success, and program management.
When I had an opportunity to leave with three months' pay, I decided to give up my last salary of over $300,000 a year. I took it as a sign to bet on myself as a full-time solopreneur; it was the best decision I ever made.
I was extremely nervous to leave behind the stability and comfort of Big Tech
In addition to the salary, I left behind a lot of great perks and tech benefits that I'd had in every role, from free food to gym memberships and massages.
Luckily, I had a wonderful husband who supported me unconditionally — emotionally and financially with bills and health insurance — and I had over six figures in savings built up over the past 10 years. I quit in February.
I'm now a program manager career coach, founder, and creator. I help program managers land fulfilling roles and share actionable tips on careers, business, and life on LinkedIn, in my newsletter, and on Instagram.
I exceeded six figures in revenue by July
I had a loose benchmark of hitting $100,000 by the end of the year, but now, nine months in, I've more than replaced my tech salary.
Three key strategies helped me cross six figures in revenue in less than six months.
- I launched a six-week cohort to help 10 aspiring and current program managers land their next roles, scaling from 1:1 to group, which brings in a third of my current income.
- I monetized my LinkedIn brand to lock in multiple four-figure brand deals with companies like Notion, Gamma, and Glassdoor.
- I received several thousands of dollars from affiliates — promoted through my LinkedIn posts by brand sponsors — and royalties from my LinkedIn Learning courses.
My first month out of the gate was one of my biggest
I prepared for my cohort launch several weeks in advance while still working my 9-to-5, nurturing my leads, and generating a warm pipeline of over 150 people on a waitlist.
My first launch was successful because of my personal brand. By posting five days a week for two years on LinkedIn, I grew my LinkedIn following to over 70,000 and my newsletter subscribers to over 10,000.
My most viral posts revolved around tackling imposter syndrome, the differences between project, program, and product managers, and workplace experiences.
The next two months weren't as lucrative, comparatively
My cohort was my highest-ticket offer at $4,000, so after I launched it, my only means of generating income were sponsored posts and 1:1 coaching.
Seeing such huge growth in my first month and starting over again was a big adjustment. I felt motivated to pursue different avenues of income by leveraging my skills and experiences, so I wasn't worried.
I became an entrepreneur to learn, grow, and see what I could do. Making more than I expected initially was just a bonus.
Over the past two months, my business income has risen again
I landed a few entirely inbound one-on-one clients for career coaching, and I had my biggest month in landing brand sponsorships.
Brand deals alone have generated more than 50% of my total income. By the end of this year, I'm forecasting to hit six figures just from brand deals.
The future feels incredibly promising
The money is great, but the best part is living the life I always dreamed of — making a living on my terms.
There are days when I work more than I used to in Big Tech — not because I have to but because I want to. The difference is that I get to design my ideal life, which includes not working after hours, spending weekends with my husband, and taking vacations whenever I want without the guilt. I've never been more productive and had such a flexible schedule.
While I grew a ton in Big Tech, my internal satisfaction is greater now as a solopreneur. I'll never close the door on returning to Big Tech, but for now, I'm intentional about living in the present and seizing every opportunity.
Have you quit a job in Big Tech and want to share your story? Email Lauryn Haas at [email protected].