Laid Off from Amazon, Woman Turns Passion into Profitable Business
Rania Zheng, a 34-year-old former senior technical product manager at Amazon, was laid off in October 2025 after nearly six years with the company. Despite feeling surprised by the news, she didn't take it personally and instead saw it as an opportunity to pursue her passion for wellness.
Zheng had been struggling to balance work and life as a woman in a competitive workplace, and found solace in holistic wellness practices such as traditional Chinese medicine, tea practices, and Qigong. After being laid off, she decided to focus full-time on turning her side project, Puyu Retreat, into an actual business.
Puyu Retreat offers curated trips of five to seven days in China, focusing on different wellness themes such as tea and traditional Chinese medicine. The business has grown steadily since its first retreat in November 2025, with over 20,000 followers on Instagram and revenue being generated. However, Zheng is not yet paying herself from the business and is reinvesting everything into the trips.
Zheng's experience highlights the importance of taking risks and pursuing one's passions, even if it means leaving a secure job behind. She emphasizes the need to build in silence and validate one's idea through various channels, rather than building in isolation. As she looks to grow her business in the US market, Zheng is optimistic about its future.