From Meta layoff to classroom leader: A tech exec's inspiring pivot

A former Meta executive has turned a career setback into a new path in education. After more than a decade at the company, she now helps students launch their careers. Her shift from tech leadership to teaching followed a layoff that reshaped her professional focus.

The transition began in 2023 when Meta cut 13 percent of its workforce. Like many, she received a termination email—a moment she describes as isolating. Before that, she had spent over ten years at the company, joining in 2012 when it was still called Facebook.

As a global director, she led a creative team working with brands and agencies. After the layoff, she started teaching as an adjunct instructor and mentor. Guest lectures took her from Los Angeles to Virginia, where she shared industry insights with students. Now a full-time educator, she draws on her experience as a manager and team leader. Her courses focus on helping students find their professional voice and understand today’s hiring landscape. Many of her pupils have gone on to secure their first jobs in competitive fields.

The move from corporate leadership to education has given her a new sense of purpose. She now works directly with students, guiding them through early career challenges. Her own experience with job loss shaped her approach to teaching and mentorship.