Toxic culture but some really good people - Anonymous employee Talkdesk Employee Review

1.0
Aug 17, 2019
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The best reason to work at Talkdesk is that you need a job. There are a few bright spots at the company - Sales Ops was run (until very recently) by an awesome VP of Operations and a team of very helpful, very knowledgeable folks who would bend over backward to help you. Lots of the sales folks and SDRs are awesome too, just good people who put in tons of effort and heart even when they get no thanks. The Information Security team, especially the Director of Security, go out of their way to help the sales folks who need it.

Cons

The company culture is extremely toxic and is only getting worse. I joined Talkdesk with high hopes. Shortly after joining I learned that the departments are very fragmented/siloed. The CEO, Tiago Paiva, micro-manages decisions throughout the company and will shoot things down for random reasons. Many managers are afraid to speak up to Tiago because he has a quick temper and flies off the handle any time he feels like his "authority" is challenged. As a result, there's a constant effort to manage him and his perception of what's happening, with predictable results. His attitude has probably contributed the most to the steady stream of executives and senior leaders who have left over the last year (several in the last couple of months). If you're in sales, the management is inconsistent. There are some great leaders still on the sales teams, but going to the deal desk for help with a tricky sale is a game of Russian roulette. Tiago rules the roost there too but you're just as likely to get shot down by some flunky in the finance department who doesn't have a clue how to actually close a sale. Benefits are on the low side of average, the company doesn't match 401k (somebody kept asking about it at every all-hands meeting a while ago, but that stopped all of a sudden), and the stock option offers are just stupid. But hey, you can bring your cute widdle puppy to work and all the recruiting team will oooh and aaah over it.

Explore other reviews about Talkdesk

5.0
Jul 16, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great company to work for. Management and team members are great!

Cons

Nothing at this moment. So far, everything has been really great.

4.0
Jun 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-The AI-First Mission is Real- We aren’t just talking about artificial intelligence; we are actively executing an AI-first transformation across our entire product and internal operating models. It’s an incredibly exciting, fast-paced space for anyone looking to build the future of enterprise software. -What makes this company truly special is our foundation: we have a deep, proven contact center history, but we’ve successfully paired that legacy with the right product architecture and the right people to dominate the AI future. It feels like today we have the right people on board to execute. - Innovative mindset- We don't have everything figured out today. Employees are encouraged to think outside of the box and move fast to try new things and surface solutions.

Cons

-High-Pressure, Agile Environment: Because we scale on consumption and automation rather than simple headcount, the bar for talent density here is exceptionally high. Things move FAST. If you prefer a slow, highly structured, or static environment, this level of rapid iteration might feel overwhelming - TD doesn't have everything figured out. You have to be OK building as you go, and not always having clear direction.

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