I grew my salary to over $500k after 2 promotions at Meta. My formula for success can be described as a cake.

Gupta said developing her soft skills in communication helped her move up the ranks at Meta.

Courtesy of Parul Gupta.

• Parul Gupta has been promoted twice at Meta since she joined the company in 2021.
• Her formula for success has three components: The cake, the icing, and the cherry on top.
• She said technically competent engineers may struggle to get promoted if they lack a personal brand.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with 30-year-old Parul Gupta...