Pros
Working at SVB was genuinely the best professional experience of my career. The culture of collaboration was unmatched - I've never seen a financial services firm where teams worked together so seamlessly. Everyone was incredibly smart and driven, which made daily work both challenging and rewarding. Being at the forefront of the innovation economy meant we were constantly learning and adapting to serve clients doing truly groundbreaking work. The growth-focused mentality created real opportunities for career advancement and skill development. Management genuinely invested in people and fostered an environment where you could take on new challenges and expand your role. The work itself was fascinating - overseeing credit for high-growth segments meant dealing with unique situations that required creative problem-solving. You felt like you were part of something bigger than traditional banking.
Cons
Despite the incredible day-to-day culture, there were serious issues at the top. The former executive management and board oversight were ultimately inadequate for the risks the bank was taking. The failure speaks for itself on this front. There were also some cliquish factions that could make navigation tricky depending on which group you were aligned with. While collaboration was strong overall, these internal politics sometimes created unnecessary friction.