Pros
Ayeeee -- I recently left Northspyre after just over two years at the company. What a tremendous experience. There's a lot of reviews here that give some positives and negatives, and some from disgruntled former employees. I want to give a real insight into Northspyre based on my experience. For the pros: * Northspyre channels a winning mindset. Everything is focused around how the company can win today, win next month, and win the vertical of commercial real estate development software. That drive enables those who want to win to thrive — it makes working everyday feel meaningful (far more than at other roles I've had in the past). * Everyone always says "the people" when asked about what makes a company great, but I think that's especially poignant at Northspyre. Moreover, it's the fact that everyone at Northspyre is willing to help you achieve success. "Can't do it" is virtually never uttered. This doesn't come at the expense of work-life balance, but instead comes with the desire that if you succeed, the company succeeds, and so people go the extra mile for you. * Northspyre is a winning environment but not an environment that strives to work you to the bone. People take vacation, leaders take time off, and people communicate the importance of mental health. There was even a minimum time expected for people to take time off. This provides a ton of psychological security around recharging and focusing on being present at home as well as at work. * Opportunity is *endless* at Northspyre. If you do well in your role, you can move up, or transition into new opportunities you want to explore. This isn't just a concept either like it is at some companies, I saw numerous people switch careers entirely and move up into leadership. It requires you to be excellent in your role and enables you to truly get rewarded for performance. I certainly appreciated this aspect a ton. Moreover, Northspyre encourages this growth; want to try something new? Go ahead and give it a shot. Leadership would often sit down with those curious about new roles and give them chances to show off their skills or try new things. It's a great environment to learn and succeed. * Leadership cares about people. While I can't speak for every person's unique experience, I can attest that I felt valued as a *person* — not just as an employee. There were conversations among leaders about preventing burnout, giving people breathers, and ensuring people felt valued. This doesn't mean everything is perfect or that there aren't gaps in this approach; in a fast moving environment, execution in this area can sometimes be hard. However there's real focus on listening to employees. One thing I especially liked was the company's new employee survey. Not only did it come with questions, but it came with mandated action plans by leadership to enact positive direction in areas that were lacking. Many employee surveys are just for listening, so it's good to see Northspyre required the improvement portion as well. * The CEO loves Spindrift and will introduce you to this amazing nectar of the gods. More on this and it being also a con in a moment. Listen, I could go on and on but I think the above paints it succinctly. Northspyre is a team that embodies a winning mindset, and if you come and look to win with the company, it's going to reward you as well. Plus you get snack boxes so that's cool too. I'm excited for my next role, but I am thrilled that I got a chance to work at Northspyre for these past two years and I highly encourage you take an opportunity to be there as well.
Cons
I loved my time of Northspyre, and of course there's areas to improve. It's a growing company, so none of this is unexpected, but it's good to know. * Wearing different hats is a common phrase in startup life, and it's a requirement at Northspyre -- especially depending on your role. This can lead to a lot of context-switching which can be difficult or frustrating at times. Be prepared to handle this, especially if you're in a leadership or versatile position. * The remote environment is great, but inevitably it can become difficult to make personal connections, especially in a growing environment where you begin to not know everyone's names. The People team was making great strides to bridge some of these gaps, however it's something to know that you'll need to make time for it on your end. Unlike an in-office setting, people aren't going to be chatting around you, so you need to make room to reach out if you're looking for those connections. * The fast moving pace means fast moving requirements. Sometimes it feels like whiplash. While I personally prefer this 10x over slow moving requirements, it can cause frustrations at points. I recommend leaning into it and seeing every switch as an opportunity to succeed in a better direction. * Finally, the CEO gets you hooked on Spindrift, and then Spindrift raises their prices like 50% in a year, and now your grocery bill is rising. Be alert. The best thing about a great roller coaster ride is the thrill. There might be some chaotic moments, but that's what makes the ride memorable in the end. When it's all done, you can't help but want to get on it again. It's a great experience.