Pros
I was fortunate to work alongside some truly exceptional individual contributors. Despite the challenges, we built a strong sense of community and provided a supportive environment for one another. Their dedication and resilience were inspiring.
Cons
There's a significant disconnect between leadership and the individual contributors on the team. I found that leaders often lacked a fundamental understanding of the day-to-day work and the tools we used, which led to unrealistic expectations and a lack of support. Unfortunately, the team culture felt unhealthy and unproductive due to a clear pattern of favoritism and a cliquey dynamic among senior management. This created an environment where decision-making felt inconsistent and honest feedback was not well-received. Accountability at the leadership level was also a consistent issue. There was a notable tendency to deflect responsibility for poor outcomes, which undermined trust and prevented the team from learning from mistakes. This leadership style resulted in team members being consistently overworked and ultimately led to significant burnout and a mass exodus.