In a stunning career shift, former JPMorgan employee Meet Semlani has officially announced that he quit JPMorgan after years of striving toward the corporate ladder — and the decision is now reshaping his professional identity. His departure, originally prompted by deep dissatisfaction with his role at the bank, took place after a silent meditation retreat and has since led him into startup founding and entrepreneurship.
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Background: From JPMorgan to introspection
Semlani joined JPMorgan in 2015 as an intern in the U.S., later returning to India to work in the asset-management division. By his mid-20s, the daily rhythm of his job — arriving at 9 a.m., attending the same meetings, leaving at 7 p.m. — left him feeling disengaged and “robotic”. In his own words, he realised the role had become a hollow pursuit of the so-called “30 VP” goal (become vice-president by age 30).
During a 10-day silent meditation retreat, free from phones and daily distractions, Semlani confronted his unfulfillment and asked himself: Did this path still make sense?
The decision to leave JPMorgan
Armed with clarity from his retreat, Semlani formally resigned from JPMorgan in February 2018. The move was not taken lightly: the bank’s name had become part of his identity, along with a comfortable salary and the prestige that came with it. He acknowledged that, despite feeling trapped, walking away felt like giving up validation and status. But he believed he didn’t see a future for himself in his corporate role.
Life after JPMorgan: major pay cut and new path
Immediately after leaving JPMorgan, Semlani joined a startup focused on helping international students with scholarships and loans. He accepted approximately a 70% pay cut compared to his previous compensation to take on this role.
Though the financial sacrifice was significant, he described the startup experience as what he’d longed for: “meaningfully busy, not just calendar busy.” Working closely with founders, seeing decisions made in real time, and feeling the direct impact of his work contrasted heavily with his former corporate existence.
Entrepreneurship and the next chapter
Late in 2019, the startup encountered fundraising challenges and laid him off — a blow, but one that prompted reevaluation. When the pandemic arrived, Semlani leveraged the downtime to co-found his own venture, Tartan, a fintech/data-infrastructure platform. The company has since raised more than US $6 million in global investment.
He credits his time at JPMorgan for imparting discipline and structure, but says his personal definition of success has shifted: no longer titles or big paychecks, but waking up and going to bed feeling content.
What his story means for U.S. finance professionals
Although Semlani’s journey is rooted in the Indian and global startup ecosystem, it carries clear lessons for U.S. professionals working in large financial institutions:
- Even at top-tier firms like JPMorgan, career progression and prestige don’t guarantee fulfilment if work becomes rote or misaligned with values.
- A dramatic career exit — even with major financial sacrifice — can serve as a catalyst for personal growth and new opportunities.
- The decision to leave does not always mean failure; rather, it can reflect a proactive pivot toward autonomy and impact.
- The metrics of success are evolving: many professionals increasingly value meaningful work, autonomy, and alignment with personal purpose over titles or compensation alone.
Timeline of key events
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Semlani joins JPMorgan as intern in the U.S. |
| ~2016-17 | Moves back to India, serves as associate in asset-management. |
| ~2017 | Age 26: feels job has become routine; begins questioning his path. |
| Early 2018 | Participates in 10-day silent meditation retreat; resolves to leave JPMorgan. |
| Feb 2018 | Officially resigns from JPMorgan. |
| 2018 onward | Joins a startup with ~70% pay cut. |
| Late 2019 | Startup layoffs prompt next pivot. |
| 2020-25 | Co-founds Tartan; secures over US $6 million in funding. |
Semlani quits JPMorgan and embarked on a markedly different professional journey—one anchored in self-reflection, purposeful work and entrepreneurship. His shift reminds U.S. readers that even at high-powered firms, the question isn’t just how far you climb, but where you’re going and why.
If you’re considering a similar pivot or have thoughts on redefining success, feel free to share your story in the comments and stay tuned for more updates.