Career Reinvention: I Left a $1B Business at Meta to Start Over

Career reinvention after a corporate exit: Maritza Bonano left a $1B business at Meta to found her own company, using her layoff as the push to finally bet on herself. Maritza Bonano helped scale a new business line at Meta to over $1 billion in revenue. From the outside, it was a dream career. On the inside, she was caught in a mix between being burnt out while not being challenged. When the tech layoffs began, she boldly used her exit package as the seed money to finally build her own business. In this episode of Chasing Waves, Joanna sits down with Maritza, Co-Founder of ChangePath, to discuss the raw reality of leaving "the safe path". Maritza has successfully navigated four major career pivots, from Deutsche Telekom to early-stage startups to Big Tech and now to founder mode. If you feel paralyzed by the "what-ifs" or stuck in a role that no longer fits your identity, this conversation is your roadmap from confusion to clarity. In this episode, you'll learn: Why high performers often stay in "boxes" that don't utilize their strengths. The 12-Month Rule: Why Maritza believes financial planning is the only thing you can truly control when leaping into entrepreneurship. The Storytelling Hack: How to answer "Tell me about yourself" by focusing on the value you bring rather than your job title. Personal Branding Without the Cringe: Why sharing your knowledge is more effective than "selling" yourself. Navigating the "Messy Middle": How to use time-blocking and specific tools to stop ruminating and start moving. Chapters: 00:00 "I was burnt out while not being challenged at Meta" 01:00 From Puerto Rico to Germany: The power of serendipity 02:45 The moment Maritza knew she had to leave Meta 04:00 The gut feeling: When it "clicks" before your brain reacts 05:45 How to financially prepare for a career leap 08:00 Transitioning to founder mode and learning the P&L 09:00 Failing at the co-founder program and finding "the gift" 11:00 How ChangePath was born from a 13-year-old problem 15:45 What is actually blocking people from making career changes? 18:00 Job search advice: Why "spraying and praying" doesn't work 21:00 Personal branding: Sharing knowledge vs. selling yourself 22:45 What successful career changers do differently 24:00 The storytelling hack for your next interview 26:00 How to carve out time for your career transition 27:45 Life advice for the 25-year-old version of Maritza 28:45 A final message for anyone paralyzed by the "what-ifs" Resources Mentioned: ChangePath (Maritza's career self-coaching platform): https://www.changepath.ai/en Connect with Maritza on LinkedIn:   / maritzabonano   📺 WATCH NEXT: How to Change Careers (Without Quitting Your Job):    • How to Change Careers (Without Quitting Yo...   Join the Community: 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode of Chasing Waves. 🌊 Free "Escape Your Comfort Zone" workbook: https://chasingwaves.co/#careeradvice Connect with Joanna: LinkedIn:   / joannawong-chasingwaves   Instagram:   / chasingwaveswithjo   #CareerChange #CareerAdvice #ChasingWavesPodcast #CareerReinvention #TechLayoffs