Meta Reality Labs Layoffs Comment

When I first heard that Meta cut roughly 10% of its Reality Labs division this week, I wasn’t entirely surprised. Over the past few years, Meta has gone through repeated rounds of workforce reductions. While I have strong opinions about many aspects of how the company is run and the strategies it has pursued, what I feel most strongly right now is sadness for those who were impacted.

That feeling is especially strong because it’s now clear to me that the layoffs disproportionately affected the optics research group—an organization that began 11 years ago as a very small and uncertain experiment. At the time, Meta had no real presence in optics or display research, and many people in the field questioned why anyone serious about optics would choose to come to Facebook.

The people who did choose to come took real professional risks. They joined without guarantees, without an established reputation to lean on, and often without broad external validation. Through their talent, persistence, and willingness to build something from nothing, they turned that early effort into a world-class optics and display organization which is what most people see today. Their work helped redefine what people now believe is possible in augmented and virtual reality displays.

I’m glad that many were able to land in new roles and can, hopefully, continue that mission. But I’m deeply sorry for those who were not.

To everyone impacted, I’m truly sorry. I’ll offer just a few thoughts:

1. There is life after Meta. Many of us were fortunate to work here during a time when there was room to explore and push boundaries in ways few companies would allow.
2. Layoffs are complex and often random. One of my mentors used to say success has two components: results and sponsorship. You can deliver strong results and still be affected by forces outside your control. These moments can also create space for reflection on what parts of our careers and performance we own and can improve.
3. Our relationships with companies are ultimately transactional. Look out for your own best interests, because companies will do the same. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care deeply or give your all—you should. But it does mean being thoughtful about where you invest your heart.

And remember, you are far more than your professional role. I know first hand, the people who chose to build within the optics research team at Meta are capable of incredible things beyond any job title. More importantly, we are also friends, parents, children, partners, mentors, and colleagues. We bring lasting value to the people and communities around us—and no corporate process can take that away.