We're cofounders who left Amazon to build our own startup. We learned the hard way why Big Tech habits don't always translate.

Tech Insider : Business
Two people stand beside a large screen displaying the Agefully app, which promotes an AI-powered day companion for older adults and their families.
Andy Ratsirason and Shalini Aggarwal left Amazon at seperate times but reunited to run their AI startup, Tenafli.

Courtesy of Andy Ratsirason and Shalini Aggarwal

I won $28 million in the Powerball when I was 21. One choice saved me from becoming a broke lottery winner.

Tech Insider : Business
Headshot of Tim Schultz, white man in glasses with blonde hair
Tim Schultz won a $28 million Powerball jackpot in February 1999.

Tim Shultz

No network? No problem. How I built an AI startup at 18 with teens around the world.

Tech Insider : Business
Smiling young man with glasses and a backpack standing outdoors with trees and buildings behind him.
Alex Yang founded a startup with other high schoolers he met online.

Courtesy of Alex Yang

I was juggling a tech leadership role and caring for my autistic brothers until burnout stopped me in my tracks. Here's what I changed to recover.

Tech Insider : Business
Kirsten Hurley

Courtesy of Kirsten Hurley; Rebecca Zisser/BI

I got laid off at 57 and couldn't find work for 20 months. I had to sell my apartment and work odd jobs to make ends meet.

Tech Insider : Business
woman sitting by window
Amy Smith says she fell into a depression during her 20-month search for a job.

Justin Paget/Getty Images

I got a job by building a dating-app-inspired website and pitching myself as the 'perfect match' for the role. Here's how I did it.

Tech Insider : Business, Style
Shari Williams smiling at camera
Shari Williams says it's important to be bold to stand out in the current job market.

Shari Williams

I burned out from 2 years of job hunting, so I changed everything about how I apply. I won't let the job market break my spirit anymore.

Tech Insider : Business
Kirsten Bradford
Kirsten Bradford applied to 278 jobs in her first year of job-searching.

Courtesy of Kirsten Bradford; Rebecca Zisser/BI

I quit Apple and had to rebuild my life at 40. Starting over has taught me how to value my whole self.

Tech Insider : Business
Cher Scarlett taking a selfie
Cher Scarlett said she didn't realize how hard it would be to find a job after leaving Apple.

Cher Scarlett

I was laid off by Meta as a 'low-performer.' I feel it's part of the reason I still can't find a job, 9 months later.

Tech Insider : Business, Politics
Brittney Ball headshot
Brittney Ball says she thought she would stay at Meta until she retired.

Brittney Ball

I flew Frontier Airlines from Atlanta to Newark for $112 round-trip. It wasn't a deal — it was a compromise.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
Manseen Logan flying Frontier airlines
Traveling on Frontier Airlines required many sacrifices, but the flight was smooth.

Manseen Logan/BI

Subscribe to manseen-logan