I left my $250,000 Meta job to coach startup founders. I work fewer hours, have less stress, and still make a good living.

Jason Shen. Courtesy of Jason Shen Jason Shen left Meta in 2023 and began building his executive-coaching business, Refactor Labs. After roles at Etsy and Meta, Shen began coaching startup founders full-time in 2024. He now works fewer hours and prioritizes family, fitness, and writing a book. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jason Shen, the 40-year-old founder of Refactor Labs based in Brooklyn. It has been edited for length and clarity. I'm the founder and CEO of…