I left Salesforce in my 50s to start my own company. AI made it feel possible.

After more than two decades in tech, Gabrielle Tao left her Salesforce executive role to start her own company. Gabrielle Tao Gabrielle Tao left her Salesforce SVP role in her 50s to launch an AI governance startup. She says advances in AI helped convince her to start a company after years of self-doubt. Tao shared how she prepared financially before leaving the corporate world. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Gabrielle Tao, a former Salesforce SVP. It has been edited ...