This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Adekunle Ayodele, 45, who lives in Georgia. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
Working at Meta, I knew getting laid off was a possibility. In recent years, layoffs have been happening rapidly in tech, and traditional ideas around job security and the 9-to-5 have been shifting.
I was nearly four years into my role as a program manager at Meta when we were notified that layoffs would be happening in a few weeks, on May 20. At 7 a.m. that morning, I checked my email. No news yet. At 7.02, nothing happened. I kept on refreshing my inbox, and at around 7.14 a.m., I found out my service was no longer needed.
My view has always been that if a company decides my skills are no longer required, that’s fair. Because of my faith, I believe that everything happens for a reason. My immediate response was to give praise to God, say goodbye to my colleagues, and put my laptop away.
I have a wife and two kids I need to provide for. I felt prepared for the layoff because I always tried to live below my means. I also had entrepreneurial ideas in my back pocket. I was ready to figure out my next chapter.
It took me two minutes to work out what I wanted to do
I’m focusing on my own ventures now. I’m investing in real estate, which is a significant part of my income and helps me sustain my businesses. Before I joined Meta in 2022, I had started my own company, Databox Technologies, to experiment with different product ideas. While at Meta, I started a nonprofit community for African and Black professionals, called Fostr.
I’ve also relaunched an idea I had a long time ago for an app called Mixle, which makes networking and building connections easier.
When I shared on LinkedIn that I was choosing to build after being laid off, 22 people reached out who were interested in joining me. It felt incredibly encouraging.
I now have a small team of about 15 people working remotely with me across my projects. The team includes contractors, part-time contributors, interns, and advisors.
My work at Meta was on a different scale than what I’m doing with my businesses, but I’m still managing priorities and delivering outcomes. The difference is that now I’m closer to the product and customers.
I’m also learning how much leverage individuals and small teams now have because of AI. One night, I realized I wanted to rebuild the entire technology stack for Mixle. AI helped me do so much more quickly and cheaply than if I’d had to pay for human labor.
It’s important to be prepared for layoffs
I’m working way more now than I was when I worked at Meta. If I’m not working, I’m sleeping. But it doesn’t feel like work because I’m so invested in it.
Mixle has started generating revenue, and while I’m open to another job at the right company, my plan is to keep building and growing my business.
Big Tech generally pays well, but lifestyle creep can happen, too. I’ve always tried to live below my means, which meant getting laid off felt like less of a shock.
When it comes to layoffs, prepare before you need to. Build relationships, keep your skills relevant, and understand your finances. Building options over many years, like savings, real estate income, and business ventures, is what mattered most when it came to helping to support my family post-layoff.
Meta did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
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