An Amazon layoff gave one working mother the push to turn a side project born from her struggle to relax into a growing wellness-travel business.
Rania Zheng, 34, was laid off from Amazon in October 2025 after nearly six years at the tech giant. Her separation officially took effect in January, leaving her to decide whether to look for another job or devote more time to the side business she had been developing. Rather than return to the job market, Zheng chose to focus full-time on Puyu Retreat, the wellness travel business she co-founded.
