This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Shiyao Tang, a 34-year-old business owner based in New York City and Paris. It’s been edited for length and clarity.
I was on a very strong upward trajectory in my manager role at DoorDash when I quit in 2025. I was making $390,000 and felt that I still had room to grow, but when I was honest with myself, my heart wasn’t in it.
Leaving to start my own silk womenswear brand wasn’t an instantaneous decision; it was a long-term calling inside of me. It took a lot of courage to quit and choose the unknown.
I still constantly ask myself if I made a huge mistake. I think to myself, “How could I just leave a job that most people would dream of?” It was high-paying, the benefits were great, and there was room for learning. But I don’t want to look back and think I climbed the wrong mountain.
I enjoyed my tech job, but felt an inner tug toward entrepreneurship
In 2022, I was hired as a strategy and operations manager on the homepage team at DoorDash. My job was challenging, and I got to wear a lot of hats. I also developed deep friendships with some truly talented people.
However, I realized I missed the feeling of being close to the people I was building for.
Earlier in my career, I had a small entrepreneurial chapter where I worked on a fashion wholesale startup. I built my own customers from the ground up and interacted with them every day.
When I was 16, I moved from China to the US and later spent a year studying abroad in Paris. I’ve always lived between cultures and felt super energized by working with people from distinct backgrounds and creative disciplines. The more I thought about it, the more I realized I wanted my career to reflect that part of me, too.
I spent about 5 months deciding what I wanted to do before I quit, and the idea scared me
Tech created a structure for me to learn and expand my horizon, but I was ready to try entrepreneurship again. I spent a lot of time journaling and reflecting on what business I really wanted to make.
Every weekend was dedicated to foundational discovery work and even talking to potential customers or friends to get some early feedback on different ideas. I even started connecting with other young, inspiring entrepreneurs at founder events, which expanded my horizons regarding what life might look like as an entrepreneur.
Frankly, I was extremely scared every day, but seeing people thrive gave me more confidence to envision what it might look like for me. I decided on my business, Soir Si, where I make simple, minimal sculptural silk pieces. The mission is to make luxury accessible.
Even though I was sure of my decision, walking away was scary, and honestly, it was really sad for me. However, the thought of not pushing to the edge of my potential was scarier than quitting.
I now split my time between NYC and Paris
I have my own apartment in NYC, and I spend half my time in Paris, typically staying with friends or family, to fuel my creative inspiration during the design process.
The first month after quitting, I focused on building a strong visual and emotional identity for Soir Si by enrolling in online courses and even partnering with a freelancer. The next stages were developing my website, connecting directly with customers, and using my branding and website to open up my supply chain.
Now I’m focused on securing and strengthening those relationships while sprinting toward product development.
I still question whether I made the wrong decision
Right after quitting, I was so focused on transitioning into entrepreneurship that I didn’t have time for self-doubt. I felt a mix of grief and sadness about leaving, but I also felt excitement about what was ahead of me. The doubts didn’t start bubbling up until several weeks later, when I hit a steep learning curve. I realized I had no idea what went into manufacturing or production, or even how to find a pattern-maker.
I remember the first time I visited some manufacturers in New York, they treated me like I had no idea what I was doing. I knew I didn’t speak their “language,” and it felt alienating. However, those moments of self-doubt were always counterbalanced by the highs, such as building relationships with potential partners. For example, my branding designer is based in Italy, and my manufacturers are based in Portugal. Establishing those relationships from scratch without any experience gave me the assurance that I can really do this.
Working toward my dream is finally making me feel excited for life
Every day, I wake up knowing I need to work really hard and give it my all to make this dream a reality. The gradual, positive feedback from peers or my audience feeds me every day, and it’s fulfilling to work with people from around the world and get to talk about silk and the region it comes from.
There are still moments when I’m super scared about the path I chose. The self-doubt bubbles up, and it all feels overwhelming, but underneath it all is a steady sense that I’m building something that aligns with who I am, not just the perception of success or stability. I’m finally excited about life again.
People might say this is a risky move, but everyone starts from nothing. I just had to be willing to take the first step.
Do you have a story to share about quitting your six-figure job for a riskier path? If so, please reach out to the reporter at [email protected].
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