Indian-origin techie quits ₹6.5 crore job at Meta to establish his own startup

His anxiety was compounded by hesitance to seek help at work, fearing it might expose his perceived inadequacy. Moreover, a challenging period for Meta Platforms, marked by stock downturns and project delays, intensified his stress at the workplace. Several of Pandey’s co-workers left to work for other companies, and the project he worked on was plagued by delays. Having barely been with the firm for a year, he believed it was too soon to go, Pandey told Business Insider. Despite these hurdles, he strived to improve his performance and adapt to the evolving dynamics within the company.

Pandey’s turning point came two years into his tenure when he developed an internal tool that streamlined workflows across the organisation, earning him recognition and promotion. Reflecting on this achievement, Pandey stated, “I not only had the technical knowledge to complete my work, but I also had enough context to lead projects. This is a critical part of being a senior engineer and beyond (staff or principal engineer).”

In 2021, Pandey’s compensation exceeded $800,000 due to his sustained strong performance and the rise in Meta stock prices. Despite a hefty pay package, he found himself questioning the true source of his achievements. “I was in the top 1% of income earners in the country! At that level, the money doesn’t actually feel deserved: luck plays a huge role,” he acknowledged.

As the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, he began to explore opportunities outside Meta Platforms, driven by a desire for personal growth and a newfound understanding of his potential. In 2022, the techie made the bold decision to leave Meta Platforms and established his own start-up, named Taro. The primary objective of Taro is to empower software engineers, leveraging Pandey’s extensive industry knowledge to help them advance their careers.