Walking away from a $390,000 salary is not a decision to be taken lightly. For Shiyao Tang, it marked a turning point that reshaped both career and identity. In 2025, the former DoorDash strategy manager left a high-paying tech role to build Soir Si, a silk womenswear label rooted in minimalist design and accessible luxury. The choice replaced predictability with uncertainty, yet it also opened space for creative purpose and personal alignment.
Shiyao Tang held a strategy and operations manager role at DoorDash, working on the company’s homepage team. The position came with strong compensation, benefits, and long-term growth potential. At $390,000 a year, the role placed her on a solid upward path within the tech industry.
Despite professional progress, something felt incomplete. Tang shared that while the work was challenging and meaningful on paper, it lacked a personal connection to the people using the products. That gap grew harder to ignore over time.
“I still constantly ask myself if I made a huge mistake,” Tang said. “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,” according to Business Insider.
A Longstanding Pull Toward Fashion
TikTok | shiyao.tang | At DoorDash, Shiyao Tang managed homepage strategy and operations with a $390,000 salary.
The move into fashion did not appear overnight. Earlier in her career, Tang worked at a fashion wholesale startup, where she built customer relationships from the ground up. That hands-on experience stayed with her and later influenced her decision to return to the industry.
Her background also shaped her creative direction. After moving from China to the United States at 16 and later studying in Paris, Tang developed a cross-cultural perspective that informed her design instincts.
“Tech created a structure for me to learn and expand my horizon, but I was ready to try entrepreneurship again,” she told Business Insider.
Months of Preparation Before the Exit
Before resigning, Tang spent over five months planning quietly. Weekends were dedicated to journaling, researching business ideas, talking with potential customers, and attending founder-focused events. This process helped narrow her vision.
That work led to Soir Si, a silk womenswear brand centered on sculptural silhouettes and clean design. The concept aimed to balance refined materials with approachability, without leaning on trend-driven fashion.
“Leaving to start my own silk womenswear brand wasn’t an instantaneous decision; it was a long-term calling inside of me,” Tang said. “It took a lot of courage to quit and choose the unknown.”
Early Momentum Followed by Reality Checks
The first weeks after leaving DoorDash felt productive. Tang focused on brand identity, design direction, and building the company’s website. Momentum soon met reality once manufacturing entered the picture.
Limited experience with production created early friction. Meetings with garment manufacturers in New York highlighted gaps in knowledge around pattern-making and sourcing.
“I realized I had no idea what went into manufacturing or production, or even how to find a pattern-maker,” Tang said. “They treated me like I had no idea what I was doing,” she told Business Insider.
Progress came through persistence. Tang secured partnerships with designers in Italy and manufacturers in Portugal, relationships that helped turn ideas into tangible products. Each step forward reinforced confidence in the decision to leave tech.
Key milestones in Tang’s journey included building supplier relationships despite having no prior manufacturing experience, developing production pipelines spanning multiple countries, and establishing a consistent creative routine while dividing her time between New York City and Paris.
These wins helped counter moments of doubt, even as uncertainty remained part of daily life.
Balancing Fear With Personal Alignment
Instagram | soir.si | Tang balances New York and Paris to refine Soir Si’s operations and creative vision.
Tang now divides her time between New York and Paris, drawing inspiration while continuing to refine Soir Si’s product line and supply chain. The emotional return, she said, has been meaningful.
“There are still moments when I’m super scared about the path I chose,” she shared. “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.”
While many see the move as risky, Tang looks at it differently. Starting from scratch, she notes, is a universal part of the founder experience.
“People might say this is a risky move,” she said, “but everyone starts from nothing. I just had to be willing to take the first step.”
Her decision sparks a broader discussion on fulfillment, risk, and redefining success. Transitioning from a secure tech role to an uncertain creative career underscores the tension between financial stability and meaningful work.
Tang’s story illustrates that high pay doesn’t automatically bring satisfaction. By leaving a $390,000 role to launch Soir Si, she opted for purpose over comfort. The path continues to test her confidence, but it also clarifies what success looks like personally.
