Bringing your whole self shouldn't be this hard
Pros
- Great benefits, perks and on-boarding experience. - I really felt like I was part of something special early on and worked with some really exceptional teammates and cross functional partners - people I still maintain friendships with. - As an employee, you will get access to coaching throughout your employment and even for 2 months after you inevitably leave - one of the most valuable perks in my opinion that will help you navigate challenges described below.
Cons
A cursory glance through the many honeymoon phase 5-star reviews on glassdoor (yes, our entire new-hire cohort was shamelessly requested to submit these) coupled with discussions with newer AE’s and an exceptional interview process created the illusion of a company that had their act together. I was bamboozled. First, if you’ve ever worked at a fast growing, agile and performance-driven startup sales environment, you’ll find that experience at odds here. This organization is run in the traditional command and control style of leadership. No empowerment, no advocacy for change, and no tolerance for dissent. Gas lighting is a common theme as is “victim mindset” labelling. This stands in stark contrast to their values, “practice imagination” and “extreme ownership!” The pressure to perform in sales is no different here than in any SaaS organization. The difference is in GTM execution and lack of sales leadership experience and support, resulting in a loss of psychological safety and, as some of my ex-colleagues confided, impact to mental health. The overall sense of entitlement and arrogance at the leadership level isn’t going to help their IC's close deals and certainly isn't going to help BetterUp capture a category.