Why I Left The Corporate World

Since making the decision to leave GLG, I’ve been fielding the same question from family, friends, and colleagues: Why? To some, it felt like a shock. To others, it was more of a “finally!” moment. Truthfully, GLG was always meant to be a one-year stint that somehow turned into a 6.5-year career of continuous learning, growth, and a lot of memories.?

Let me set the scene. I joined GLG right out of undergrad as a last-minute decision. My goal? Stay in the U.S. for one more year while figuring out what I actually wanted to do with my life. I’ve always known I wanted to start my own company, and the plan was simple: spend a year learning the corporate ropes, then head out to build something on my own.?

But as life would have it, every time I talked to my friends about leaving, I ended up staying—largely because of the incredible people I worked with and the relationships I built with clients. It even became a running joke in my friend group that I’d never leave GLG until I became CEO (still on the vision board, by the way).?

So, what changed??

When I finally left, I told everyone I was heading to a startup as employee number one, but I didn’t really dive into my thought process. After weeks of goodbye conversations, reflecting on feedback, and a lot of existential pondering, I’ve narrowed it down to three reasons I decided to take the leap.?

Spoiler alert: it wasn’t GLG—it was me.?

?1. Right Place, Right Time?

When people ask about my success at GLG, I often say it was mostly luck, great mentorship, and maybe a little bit of hard work. (Emphasis on maybe.) A pivotal moment in my career came early on when I was debating between two paths: taking a lateral move to Enterprise Business Development or stepping into a leadership role in Client Solutions.?

Thankfully, my manager and mentors guided me to the lateral role, which ended up being a game-changer. It not only boosted my compensation by 150% over two years (hello, bigger paycheck) but also set me up for other opportunities that required commercial experience.?

When this startup opportunity came along, I felt the same “right place, right time” energy. I’m not quite 30 yet, and with no family obligations holding me back, it felt like the perfect moment to take the risk and pursue my passion for building a company. If not now, when??

2. The Need to Learn (and Maybe Get Rich)?

Over my time at GLG, I gained invaluable skills—recruiting C-level executives, scaling high-performing teams, negotiating multimillion-dollar contracts, and surviving endless PowerPoint presentations. But by the end of 2024, I started to feel like I’d learned all I could in my current role. I was craving a new challenge—something that would push me to build something from scratch.?

I also realized I’d started dialing down my direct leadership style over the past 1.5 years. A client feedback conversation shortly before I left was a wake-up call. They said they wished I’d been more assertive in managing the relationship. Ouch, but fair. I’ve always been customer-obsessed and unafraid to push boundaries, but the high-stakes nature of my last role had me second-guessing myself.?

That conversation sealed the deal for me—startups thrive on direct, hands-on leadership, and I knew it was time to get back to that unapologetic style. Plus, if I happen to stumble into riches along the way, I’m not going to complain.?

3. A Personal Reset?

While this new role will require a lot of travel, it will also give me the chance to spend extended periods in Pakistan, where we’re launching. That means more time with my parents—something that’s been on my mind for a while now.?

And honestly? After six and a half years at GLG, it just felt like the right time for a change—not just professionally but personally. Sometimes, you just have to take the leap, trust the timing, and hope for the best.?

What’s Next??

For now, I’m excited to dive headfirst into the startup world and see where this journey takes me. I’ll share more about the company and our mission soon, but for now, I just wanted to reflect on the journey that got me here.?

To everyone who supported me during my time at GLG (and those who humored my “I’m leaving!” speeches every year)—thank you. The relationships I’ve built during this chapter are ones I’ll cherish forever.?

Here’s to new beginnings, taking risks, and figuring it out one step at a time. ?