“My Nervous System Did Not Know What Was Going On”: Ex-Meta on Landing Consulting Gigs post Layoffs

Leaving Big Tech can trigger more than a career shift—it can spark a complete rethink of how and where to work. In this episode, Kate Minogue shares what it actually looks like to build a consulting and fractional career after corporate leadership. She discusses how executives land their first consulting gigs, how advisory and fractional roles differ from traditional jobs, and why layoffs can sometimes become the catalyst for designing a more flexible career. Kate also reflects on the emotional side of the transition—from the moment her “nervous system did not know what was going on” to redefining identity, ambition, and success outside the corporate ladder.

Kate Minogue is a fractional CPO, advisor, and AI strategist who works with startups and scale-ups on product, data, and growth strategy. She previously spent over six years at Meta leading Marketing Science teams across EMEA, partnering with major app, gaming, and consumer tech companies on data-driven decision making. Earlier in her career, she held data science and analytics roles at Bank of Ireland and Paddy Power. Today she advises companies on product innovation, AI strategy, and data-driven growth while serving as an angel investor, board member, and advisor across the startup ecosystem.

For more on her work, visit https://kate-minogue.com/