I left my 6-figure job at Google to attend pastry school in France. Now I work on Disney cruise ships.
Business Insider
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Valerie Valcourt left her lucrative job at Google to pursue her passion for baking, attending pastry school in France after years of feeling unfulfilled in the tech industry. Her journey highlights a significant career pivot from earning over $100,000 annually in Big Tech to embracing a culinary path that brought her true joy. After attending an intensive pastry program in Agde, France, she gained valuable experience through internships and now works as a demi chef de partie on Disney cruise ships.
Valerie spent five years in tech roles at Google and Amazon, yet the dog-eat-dog work culture left her feeling disconnected. Despite financial success, she yearned for a career that aligned with her passion for baking, which began during a high school home economics class. Her decision to leave tech was driven by a desire for fulfillment, leading her to apply to pastry schools in Paris and later France's
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Originally published on Business Insider on 2/25/2026