Leadership is not aligned, and it shows in the constant whiplash employees experience. Teams are pushed to run hard in one direction, only to be told days or weeks later to pivot back, and then back again, with little explanation or accountability. This lack of consistency has created an environment where strategy feels nonexistent and execution is chaotic at best. Certain leaders rely heavily on polished language and buzzwords, but when you strip it down, there’s pretty much zero substance or follow-through. Employees are left to decipher empty statements instead of getting clear guidance.
Transparency is another major issue. Layoffs, reorganizations, and critical business decisions are rolled out late, with minimal context, and often contradict previous messaging. It has eroded trust and created an undercurrent of uncertainty that impacts every team. The culture, which once felt collaborative and inspiring, has deteriorated into something toxic — reactive, political, and disconnected from the mission that originally drew so many of us in. Career growth is unclear, with no real paths or development opportunities. Instead, leadership shifts the narrative to suit their needs: “We’re a startup” when justifying lack of process, resources, or pay, and “We’re no longer a startup” when it comes to expectations, workloads, or accountability.
