Leadership, culture, etc trending down - Customer First Okta Employee Review

2.0
Mar 31, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Genuinely nice CEO, mostly nice employees. Strong customer focus. Solid product

Cons

I've been a part of a lot of fast growth companies, but never have I seen one have such a rapid descent into negative territory as I have over the last 4 years at Okta. The culture went from friendly, collaborative and customer focused to becoming quite political, territorial and having more and more folks with a 'me first' attitude. Some department heads display questionable maturity and/or leadership ethics. The senior leadership team has shifted into what feels more like a typical 'bro' club than what you'd hope to see at a modern organization. While there has been a key female hire (CPO, for example), they lost a key female leader (CCO) and haven't replaced her. There is little meaningful effort to grow female leadership from within, or- if I'm fair- to grow any leadership from within actually (male or female). Diversity efforts are mostly just show at this point. Some teams are more disastrous and broken than others. IT for example- so many business critical/business accelerating projects stall or die on the vine due to this team. Little effort seems to be focused on trying to fix these things as no one is looking across the business at what's needed, they're all too busy managing their own fiefdoms.

Explore other reviews about Okta

5.0
May 26, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Well-structured and highly organized. Lots of learning and growth opportunities, autonomy and ownership. Companywide AI trainings and certification. Great people

Cons

Two-year limit on contractors and not a lot of headcount to convert contractors to FTE

1.0
Jun 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Smart, talented, and supportive colleagues. Interesting products and the opportunity to work on technology that impacts many customers. Good work-life balance in most teams. Collaborative culture with opportunities to learn from experienced peers. Strong brand recognition and valuable experience for your resume

Cons

Cons Recognition is lacking, especially for individual contributors. Strong performance and consistent delivery do not necessarily translate into career advancement, promotions, or meaningful salary increases. Growth opportunities appear limited for ICs, while management roles seem to receive a greater share of advancement and compensation opportunities. After several years, many individual contributors may find themselves reaching a career plateau with few clear paths for progression. If career growth, promotion opportunities, and compensation advancement are important priorities, it may be worth evaluating other opportunities once you’ve gained experience here

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