• In-office expectations are inconsistent, with local employees required to commute while a significant portion of the team remains remote
• Work-life boundaries are not consistently respected, with expectations to work late becoming normalized
• Product direction frequently shifts based on ad hoc input from customers, prospects, or competitors, often without structured validation or planning
• There is accountability without ownership. Product managers are held responsible for outcomes but are not given the autonomy to own decisions or direction
• Executive leadership is deeply involved in day-to-day product decisions, limiting the ability for product managers to operate strategically
• Micromanagement is common, including detailed oversight of discovery work and routine activities
• Limited opportunity to develop domain expertise due to constant shifts in priorities and lack of ownership
• The role often feels reduced to backlog management rather than true product ownership
• Expectations and performance metrics are not always aligned with standard product management practices