I Made 6 Figures as a High-Level Executive: Here’s Why I Quit
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Amber Barkley
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For many, the American dream means landing a cushy corporate job and retiring with a nice pension. For others, it’s about that entrepreneurial spirit — building something from nothing. And then there are people like Liz Folce, who did both.
After over two decades climbing the corporate ladder at beauty giant Estée Lauder, Folce walked away from her six-figure VP position to launch her own clean beauty brand, Nakery Beauty. Here’s what drove her to make that life-changing decision — and why it might inspire you to do the same.
But before you quit your job, make sure you’re not leaving for the wrong reasons.
From Counter Girl to Corporate Executive
Folce’s journey began behind an Estée Lauder makeup counter, where her dedication to customer service sometimes got her in trouble.
“I would get in trouble because I would talk too long,” she said. “I [wanted] to listen to what the customers needed; I wanted to listen to their stories.”
That customer-first approach eventually propelled her up the ranks. “I worked my way up to a coordinator, then became a VP of sales.”
When Big Beauty Says No
Despite her success, Folce grew frustrated with the industry’s focus on profits over people.
“Everything was so transactional,” she said. “We stopped listening to customers.”
When focus groups revealed a demand for clean beauty products, Folce approached several major companies. “All three companies I went to, not mentioning any names, all said absolutely not. There’s not a big enough market.”
Taking the Biggest Risk
For someone who grew up with a single mom who lived paycheck to paycheck, quitting a stable executive position wasn’t easy.
“I never thought I would leave. I had been there over 20 years and my thought was, I’ll just die here,” Folce explained. “I’m not a wealthy person at all … but I was so determined to turn the tables and actually listen to customers that I quit my job and cleared out my savings account.”
From Zero to $100 Million
Despite warnings that she would fail, Folce’s customer-first approach proved successful. “Here I am three years after launching Nakery Beauty, and we’re now a multimillion dollar company.”
Starting with just credit cards and one employee, her company generated under $10 million in its first year. By year three, revenue had soared to nearly $100 million — proving that listening to customers’ needs could translate into major success.
“Every product that we make has not been even my idea,” Folce said. “I can’t even take credit for that. That was from customers.”
The Bottom Line
“I think I would hate myself had I not done it,” Folce said, reflecting on her decision to leave corporate life.
Her advice for others considering a similar leap? “Whether you’re a single mother or you’re someone who thinks that you have nothing and that you’re not willing to take that risk, you’ll be surprised at what you can do.”
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