Finding Her Way: How Daniela Discovered Community and Confidence with Her Allies

Daniela Meza-Gray was laid off from Meta right as she had recently relocated to Los Angeles.

"Job searching in a vacuum can feel ineffective like you aren't doing enough. Having mentorship and community helps alleviate that. Whether you're learning from others about what's working for them or just finding motivation, it's hard to stay motivated when there's so much rejection or just silence."

When Daniela Meza-Gray was laid off from Meta in March 2023 after six years with the company, she found herself at a crossroads. Having just moved to Los Angeles to be closer to family, she initially welcomed the opportunity to reassess her career path.

"While it wasn't my choice to get laid off, I tried to take the time to figure out what I really wanted in my next role and align it with my values," Daniela shares. "It can be so easy to get caught up in chasing the next promotion."

But, as weeks turned into months, and her job search stretched beyond a year and a half, Daniela's optimism began to wane. The isolation of job hunting in a new city, where her professional network was limited, took its toll.

"I tried hard with networking and applying, and it was a lot harder than I hoped it would be," she admits. "Job searching can be super isolating, especially when others in your network start to land jobs. I felt like I was in a rut."

A Timely Connection

It was during this challenging period that Daniela reconnected with Tessa, a former colleague from Meta, who introduced her to Her Allies in May of last year. The timing couldn't have been better.

"I wanted to focus on building community during the process of job searching," Daniela explains. "Her Allies sounded exactly like what I needed."

The program offered more than just career guidance—it provided a supportive community of women facing similar challenges. This sense of belonging was invaluable for Daniela, who had recently relocated and was feeling disconnected.

"Job searching in a vacuum can feel ineffective like you aren't doing enough," she reflects. "Having mentorship and community helps alleviate that. Whether you're learning from others about what's working for them or just finding motivation, it's hard to stay motivated when there's so much rejection or just silence."

Mentorship That Transformed Her Approach

With Tessa as her mentor, Daniela gained not only emotional support but also strategic advice that helped her navigate interviews and compensation negotiations.

"I wanted better answers and help framing my experience, especially since I was applying for roles I hadn't done before," Daniela explains. "Tessa helped me brainstorm questions and gave feedback on my answers. She was also a great resource for negotiating and asking for high compensation."

This guidance paid off. Daniela successfully landed a role as a Senior Program Manager at Snapchat, leading initiatives in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Despite joining a smaller company, she was able to secure compensation close to her previous salary—"a huge win at the time," as she puts it.

New Beginnings

Just two weeks before starting at Snapchat, Daniela learned she was pregnant—adding another layer of transition to her already evolving life.

"I'm in the office four days a week after being out of work for almost two years. It's been a lot of change," she reflects.

One of the most profound impacts of Her Allies for Daniela was hearing stories from other women who had taken career breaks and returned to successful professional lives.

"Working with Her Allies gave me more insight into how much experience is out there from women who've taken breaks and how much they have to add to a role," she says.

“As someone starting a family, it expands your idea of what's possible. It gives you more agency to make decisions for yourself, rather than letting fear of losing out on a career stop you."

Paying It Forward

While Daniela isn't currently volunteering with Her Allies—she's focusing on her new role and preparing for her baby's arrival—she has already begun paying it forward by referring others to the program.

"I connected with someone on LinkedIn who was having similar negative experiences, and I recommended Her Allies," she says.

"It's okay to ask for help and build community around this experience. You're not alone."

For women on the job hunt, Daniela emphasizes the accessible nature of Her Allies compared to other services marketed to job seekers.

"With how the job market has been, there are so many people selling services, and it's hard to make that decision when you aren't earning an income," she notes. "Her Allies made it accessible. It's flexible, mentee-driven, and you get out what you put in."

She particularly values the structural advice she received during her time with the program. 

"Tessa shared that she dedicated a day just to networking, talking to people, and building connections. That stuck with me. It helped me be more strategic in my job search and fine-tune my goals so it wasn't so overwhelming."

Though Her Allies remains close to her heart, Daniela is now focused on her next chapter. 

"The program gave me the tools and confidence to make my way to my current role," she says. "I hope to pay it forward when the time is right."