When Meta announced another wave of layoffs, Elisa Pérez knew it was time.
After 20 years in big tech, leading global teams at Google and Meta, she was ready for something different.
But even with two world-class logos on her CV, stepping out on her own wasn’t easy.
“I was afraid. What if I fail? What if it doesn’t work? But then I pictured my 80-year-old self, sitting in a chair by the sea, asking, ‘Seriously, you didn’t even try?’ That’s when I decided.”
Building from zero again
Elisa didn’t walk into her new business with a full client roster.
When she founded Elisa Pérez Consulting, she started from scratch — no clients, no co-founder, no team.
Her focus: helping leaders and executive teams perform better.
Her clients today span the world: TikTok in China, startups in Madrid, executives in the U.S. and Dubai.
“Everything I do is online. I help teams build trust, clarity, and psychological safety because that’s where performance really starts.”
From corporate comfort to entrepreneurial chaos
The hardest part wasn’t the consulting itself.
It was realizing how much of her old life had been done for her.
“At Meta, I didn’t make slides for 12 years. The first time I had to pitch a client deck, I thought, ‘Who’s going to do my slides?’ Then I realized: me.”
Running solo means doing everything — finance, admin, outreach, marketing.
And it’s lonely. Even for someone who once managed hundreds.
“In corporate, you have peers. As a founder, it’s just you. Some days you’re flying. Some days you’re doubting everything.”
The pivot she didn’t plan
Ironically, Elisa didn’t want to do coaching at first.
She wanted to consult for companies, not individuals.
But large contracts take months. Coaching brought in faster feedback and joy.
“I had people reaching out asking for coaching. I said yes. It turned out to be what I love most.”
The power of people
Her biggest insight from decades in tech leadership?
“You can have the best strategy in the world. But if your leadership is weak, your results will always be slower and smaller.”
That’s what she helps founders and executives fix: building trust, credibility, and psychological safety so teams can perform without fear.
What she wishes she knew
“Selling. When you come from Google or Meta, the brand sells for you. When you’re on your own, you are the brand. That was a big mindset shift.”
Still, she wouldn’t trade it.
Freedom, purpose, and fulfillment now define her success.
“Success is going to bed thinking: today was a good day, and I did something meaningful.”
My takeaway
Elisa’s story captures a truth many founders feel but rarely admit:
Leaving the safety of a great job isn’t just about risk. It’s about identity.
When the logo disappears, what remains is your real value: your energy, your purpose, your ability to help others grow.
And that’s exactly what Elisa rebuilt from scratch.
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