Chaotic enviroment. No vision. Ego encouraged. - Fire Extinguisher Sphero Employee Review

I've seen a lot in my time at Sphero. BB-8 in 2015 was the height of the highs. From there it became clearer and clearer that the executive team isn't skilled at running a successful or profitable business. Far too many people were hired in the following year, with many being laid off in 2018 due to poor growth planning and a very short-sighted vision. The turnover of employees is well into the hundreds in the time I've been there. Exit feedback doesn't seem to be taken into account to improve the negatives, and there are quite a few. More recently, there was a second round of layoffs within 2 years. Somehow the same team is at the top, hinting that personal relationships may be held in higher regard than the success of the business. The values on paper don't match the culture in person, with competitive, bullish, ego-driven "yes man" attitudes that get you ahead in the organization. Also, being male definitely helps. I am one, but I also see what female employees experience. There is no leadership or growth training, and it shows. I was horrified by how some Director and VP level employees treated people, especially behind closed doors. The longer your tenure, the more damage you do to your personal growth and career, as bad habits are enabled. Disrespect is the norm and standing up for yourself, your work, or tactfully questioning authority gives you the reputation of a troublemaker. The company spends foolishly, and compensates relatively poorly. Adults don't need to be fed free lunches and have snacks and frozen food on hand. It's nice, but retaining valuable talent is more important. There is no long term plan or vision, and the short-term strategy is manic, shifting priorities constantly and adding more and more to employee's plates without much understanding of the impact on morale, time, and return. Use caution in applying to what seems like a great opportunity on paper. You'll either be laid off or get so overwhelmed by doing 4-5 jobs at once with no support that you'll leave very quickly. "We're a scrappy startup" is no excuse for overworking and undersupporting your employees. And you've been around since 2010... it's really time to rethink how you do things and put the startup card to rest.