When the announcement hit that Semlani quits JPMorgan, it marked the end of one chapter and the start of a radically different career path. After joining JPMorgan in 2015 and climbing into its asset-management ranks, he made the bold decision to walk away—leaving behind a six-figure corporate salary, the prestige of a Wall Street brand, and the track often described as “up and out” in banking. His transition culminated in founding a fintech startup that has now raised over US $6 million and redefined what success means to him.
Early Career and the JPMorgan Years
Semlani began his journey with JPMorgan as a U.S. intern and later returned to India to take on a full-time role as an associate in the firm’s asset-management division. In those early years, he embraced the “30 VP” mindset—a goal common among young finance professionals aiming for vice-president status by age 30.
By the age of 26, however, he increasingly sensed that his path had become formulaic: arrive at the office, attend recurring meetings, deliver similar analyses, leave at day’s end—and repeat. He described that phase as feeling “robotic,” trapped in routine, even while the title and compensation were impressive. The identity of being a JPMorgan high-performer had become a double-edged sword—prestigious externally, but internally hollow.
The Turning Point: Clarity Beyond the Corporate Ladder
While at JPMorgan, Semlani signed up for a 10-day silent meditation retreat. Without phones, screens or distractions, he confronted questions he had long deferred: “Is this what I truly want?” and “Who am I beyond the job title?” During the retreat’s silence, he realised the predictable routine of his finance career was no longer satisfying.
Returning to the bank, he informed his manager of his intention to resign. He formally departed JPMorgan in February 2018. It was a move fraught with risk: he relinquished salary, status, and familiarity in pursuit of something less defined but more authentic.
Life After the Exit: Taking a 70% Pay Cut and Starting Over
Immediately after leaving JPMorgan, Semlani joined a startup focused on helping international students with scholarships, grants and loans. The new role came with a steep pay cut—estimated at 70% compared to his banking salary. Yet he willingly accepted it, prioritising purpose over paycheck.
Lifestyle adjustments followed: fewer meals out, less travel, living modestly. He moved into a workflow where he could walk up to the CEO with an idea, see decisions happen in real time, and experience “meaningfully busy” days rather than being merely “calendar busy.” The startup culture reignited his sense of agency and growth—but the road was not smooth.
Venturing into Entrepreneurship and Building Something of His Own
By late 2019 the startup encountered fundraising headwinds and laid him off. Undeterred, Semlani used the pandemic’s slower tempo to reflect and plan. He co-founded a data-infrastructure fintech platform, Tartan, which has since secured more than $6 million from global investors and established itself as a rising player in its niche.
He reflects that his time at JPMorgan contributed discipline, structure and a solid work ethic. But entrepreneurship brought a different fulfillment: building from the ground up, taking ownership, and aligning values with action. His definition of success evolved—from titles and paychecks to waking up excited and going to sleep content.
What the Journey Suggests for U.S. Financial Professionals
While Semlani’s story unfolded largely in the India-U.S. startup corridor, American professionals in large financial services firms can draw clear lessons:
- Even at gold-standard firms like JPMorgan, the trajectory of title → compensation → prestige may not satisfy longer-term personal purpose.
- Exiting a high-pay corporate role can feel terrifying—but clarity often follows the hardest decisions.
- A steep pay cut doesn’t always mean stepping backwards; it can be stepping aside to move forward in a different dimension.
- True career fulfilment may come from impact, autonomy and growth rather than status alone.
- Entrepreneurship is not the only alternative—but the mindset of reinvention matters, no matter the industry.
Key Chronology of Events
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Semlani joins JPMorgan as intern in the U.S. |
| ~2016 | Moves back to India as associate in asset-management at JPMorgan. |
| ~2017 | At age 26, feels job has become routine and unfulfilling. |
| 2018 Feb | Leaves JPMorgan. |
| 2018-19 | Joins startup; accepts ~70% pay cut; embraces startup culture. |
| Late 2019 | Laid off from startup; begins founding his own business during pandemic. |
| 2024-25 | Startup Tartan raises over $6 million; Semlani champions a new success metric. |
Redefining Success in the Modern Career Landscape
Semlani now emphasizes that success isn’t about job titles or big paychecks. Instead, his gauge is simple: Do I wake up with purpose? Do I go to sleep feeling content? In a time when many U.S. professionals are rethinking their work-life balance, job identity, and long-term satisfaction, his pivot offers a compelling blueprint.
He acknowledges that leaving JPMorgan involved walking away from external validation—something he once valued deeply. But in doing so he gained internal clarity, autonomy and alignment. As he puts it: the structure and prestige of JPMorgan helped shape him—but now he seeks to shape something of his own.
Takeaways for U.S. Audiences Navigating Big Firm Careers
- If your daily rhythm feels mechanised—even in an elite company—the issue may not be the firm, but the alignment with your values.
- A pause, retreat or self-check can uncover clarity that years of productivity won’t.
- Giving up a comfortable salary may feel reckless—but when it’s coupled with purpose, it may feel liberating.
- Switching to a smaller organisation or founding something is not about status. It’s about agency.
- Whether you stay at a big firm or leave it, the metric of success is increasingly psychological: fulfilment, autonomy, and growth.
In summary, when the headline read “Semlani quits JPMorgan,” it wasn’t an exit from finance—it was an entry into something deeper. His decision speaks directly to U.S. professionals who question the long-term meaning of corporate ladders, who crave more than meetings and bonus cycles, and who seek to structure lives around purpose—not just pay. If you’ve ever felt the same tug, his experience offers both inspiration and a road map for transformation.
We’d love to hear from you—has your role ever felt “robotic”? Do you believe it’s time to redefine success on your own terms? Share your thoughts below.