Freshworks has a strong product vision and some incredibly talented individuals at the ground level. Unfortunately, my experience was overshadowed by a toxic management culture marked by micromanagement, lack of leadership accountability, and biased growth practices.
The team I was part of was heavily controlled by managers who often lacked the skills or maturity to lead effectively. Genuine contributions were frequently overlooked in favor of those who aligned personally with leadership, making promotions and recognition feel political and unfair. There was little room for independent thinking or professional growth unless you operated within those unwritten boundaries.
The absence of constructive feedback, coupled with unprofessional behavior from some managers, made the work environment stressful and demotivating. Trust and transparency were sorely lacking.
Advice to Management:
Start by empowering your people and stop promoting based on favoritism. Train your managers on how to lead with empathy, fairness, and technical clarity. If you want to retain and grow top talent, shift away from micromanagement and recognize performance over proximity.
