Kelly Daniel pivots career from Meta to prompt director at AI startup
- After being laid off from Meta, Kelly Daniel sought opportunities in the tech sector with a focus on generative AI.
- She accepted a content editor role that, despite being less senior, aligned with her experience and provided critical industry exposure.
- Her proactive approach and curiosity ultimately led her to become a prompt director at an AI startup.
In April 2025, Kelly Daniel experienced a layoff from Meta, which became a pivotal moment in her career. While this job loss could have been a setback for many, Kelly viewed it as an opportunity to transition into the emerging field of prompt engineering. Despite initially lacking awareness of what prompt engineering entailed, she researched potential avenues to leverage her background in journalism and technology partnerships. Her aim was to find companies that were resilient against layoffs and could offer stability in the evolving tech landscape. After thorough research, Daniel identified opportunities with organizations focusing on generative AI projects. She accepted a content editor role, feeling it aligned well with her skills as a former journalist and content creator. Though the position had a short contract duration and wasn't a senior role, she recognized the potential for growth in her career. The experience gained in this role would make her a more competitive applicant for future jobs in the tech sector. Throughout her re-entry into the workforce, Daniel emphasized curiosity and proactivity. Even before officially starting her new job, she engaged with colleagues to learn about improving generative AI content quality. This engagement not only prepared her for her new role but also helped her understand how to streamline generative AI processes to work effectively at scale. Her experience in journalism allowed her to focus on developing prompts that could consistently yield high-quality output, addressing broader themes rather than specifying individual tasks. Today, Kelly Daniel serves as a prompt director at Lazarus AI, where she leverages her unique skill set to contribute to the advancement of AI technologies. She also imparts her knowledge through teaching, such as her role as an instructor in CNBC's online course titled How to Use AI to Be More Successful at Work. Daniel’s journey illustrates how resilience and adaptability can turn a layoff into an opportunity for professional growth in a rapidly evolving industry.