Indian man explains why he quit his 6-figure Big Tech job at 30: ‘If not now, it only gets harder’

An Indian professional has opened up about his decision to quit his six-figure corporate job at a Big Tech company, saying he wanted to step away from the conventional career path and explore what comes next.Teja worked as a Product Manager at Big Tech firm. (Instagram/@teja_ryali)Sharing his experience on Instagram, Teja said that July 31, 2026, was his last working day as a Product Manager at a Big Tech company. One month after leaving his job, he shared the thought process behind the decision.”31.07.2026: my last working day as a Product Manager at Big Tech. One month unemployed today,” he wrote.Teja said that one of the biggest reasons behind his decision was his desire to stop “building someone else’s vision” and find out what happens when he builds his own. “Six years building someone else’s vision. I wanted to find out what happens when I build my own. This felt like the right window: the older I get, the more responsibility stacks up, the more this jump costs. If not now, it only gets harder,” he said.Teja also pointed to the rapid changes brought about artificial intelligence as another factor influencing his thinking. “As a PM in Tech, I watched AI rewrite how work actually gets done, in real time,” he wrote.He said he no longer believes that having one employer, climbing one career ladder and following a traditional 9-to-5 schedule is the only way to build a life. “There are more ways to make a living in 2026 than any year before it, and I’d rather be building inside that shift than watching it from outside,” he said.(Also Read: Bengaluru techie recalls how he sabotaged his big tech company interview to join Meesho)Further, Teja spoke about his personal reasons for wanting to make the change. While his family and friends are in India and he values the time he spends with them, he said he wants greater freedom to experience new places and meet new people.”The rest of me wants a life without borders on it: new people, new places, a network I build myself, not the one I inherited. I love being a global citizen with close ties to my roots. I want the freedom to go wherever I want, for as long as I want, and still be able to visit home for however long as I want to. I’m excited to figure out how this works,” he wrote.Concluding the post, Teja acknowledged that he is still figuring out exactly what his next chapter will look like. “I am still figuring out what shape this next step of my life takes. I am documenting this journey as I go, one step at a time,” he said.(Also Read: Zoho’s Sridhar Vembu says AI is the ‘only technology that will matter’, sparks discussion)Social media reactionsThe post drew supportive reactions from users. “I’m impressed Teja!” one person commented. Another wrote, “Wishing you all the luck.””Hi Teja, I am admiring your thought process, way to go,” another user said.