In a bold career move that defies conventional wisdom, an Indian professional abandoned his prestigious position at global banking giant JPMorgan to embrace the uncertain world of startups, despite facing a massive 70% reduction in his salary.
The Corporate Grind That Led to Disillusionment
Semlani, who studied Commerce and Economics at Mumbai's prestigious Sydenham College of Commerce & Economics before moving to the United States on a temporary work visa, began his corporate journey with high ambitions. He joined JPMorgan in 2015 as an intern while on a US visa and later returned to India, where he became an associate within the asset management department.
By age 26, just two years into his banking career, he found himself completely drained and disenchanted with the corporate routine. "I was two years into my time at JPMorgan when I realized how disillusioned I'd become with my life. It felt robotic," Semlani revealed in his interview with Business Insider.
His daily routine had become painfully monotonous: arriving at the office by 9:00 AM, attending identical meetings, performing repetitive tasks, and leaving at 7:00 PM. The relentless cycle took a significant personal toll, causing him to lose friends and relationships during that period.
The Life-Changing Meditation Retreat
Seeking respite from his monotonous existence, Semlani spontaneously registered for a 10-day silent meditation retreat, initially intending only to undergo a digital detox. However, the experience proved transformative, providing him with unprecedented clarity about his career path.
"On a whim, I signed up for a 10-day silent meditation retreat with the intention of taking a digital detox, and came back with the clarity that it was time to quit," he explained. The time away from work and technology helped him recognize that he had grown accustomed to the status, validation, and financial security JPMorgan provided, rather than genuine fulfillment.
He acknowledged the social benefits of his banking position, noting how mentioning his JPMorgan affiliation at social gatherings immediately sparked curiosity and interest from others. Despite enjoying this validation, the retreat helped him realize he needed to distance himself from the corporate grind.
Embracing Entrepreneurship Amid Challenges
In February 2018, without a concrete career plan, Semlani resigned from JPMorgan and joined a startup focused on assisting Indian students pursuing higher education abroad. He began as a customer service associate, accepting a staggering 70% reduction in his previous compensation.
His startup journey encountered further obstacles when he was laid off in late 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly provided him with the time and space to seriously pursue entrepreneurship. "I decided to go all in on my startup idea as a cofounder," Semlani stated.
The initial phases of fundraising and business development proved exceptionally challenging. He described a particularly difficult period about six months into his entrepreneurial venture where he went to bed crying every night, wondering when the struggle would end. Yet each morning, he reminded himself that this challenging path was exactly what he had chosen and genuinely wanted.
His perseverance ultimately paid off. Five years after embarking on his entrepreneurial journey, his startup Tartan successfully raised $6 million in funding, validating his decision to leave corporate security behind in pursuit of personal fulfillment and purpose.
