Company trying to find itself after 2016 challenges - Principal Product Manager Happen Bank Employee Review

4.0
Jul 2, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Generally friendly company culture, management tries (very) hard to be a nice/cool employer considering the significant challenges experienced in 2016 with founder and CEO scandals, so you get the usual perks of being located central SF, nice office, new designs, occasional feel-good company events, etc. Product team has been through a lot of reshuffle in 2016 as well but generally seems to be heading in the right direction from 2017 onwards with a new inspiring leader (lean approach, KPI oriented, experimentation culture, designers embedded into teams).

Cons

Although it is a fairly young and innovative company with their lending model in FinTech, it is also a very hierarchical company under scrutiny of the market (since IPO). The overall structure pushes levels down and prevents innovative thinking, too much group think, still too much HIPPO decision making, bureaucratic organisation despite their hard efforts to make it less so. Seniority or closeness to execs still seems to be what allows people to be promoted. Lots of the brightest and more innovative people have left progressively to more novel/younger companies in FinTech.

Explore other reviews about Happen Bank

5.0
May 31, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

nice office and learned a lot

Cons

did not get to work too cross functionally

2.0
May 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Decent starting pay and some good teammates. The company is highly profitable and continues to grow. Opportunities to take on new responsibilities and expand your scope. Equity awards.

Cons

Over the course of several years, I have been given additional responsibilities multiple times without more compensation despite the company’s strong financial performance. While I’m happy to contribute, the pattern of increasing responsibility without recognition is a major demotivator, even to your most diligent employees. It's tiresome. It doesn't take much effort to make strong contributors feel seen and valued, and it's such a missed opportunity not to. The company frequently talks about culture and values, but there is infighting and rivalries between teams and individuals. That energy creates drama instead of collaboration and leads to repetitious mistakes. Good people — especially top performers — eventually leave because they can.

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