GitHub reviews

Many senior managers aren't setting direction for their teams or for the organization. Setting strategy is meaningless without the ability to execute. Team members aren't empowered to do their best work because the legacy flat organization means team members need to get buy-in on a massive scale to get things gone. It isn't efficient, and it burns people out. Really talented and respected people are let go for political reasons, which is devastating to those left behind. There's a culture of fear -- of coming off as stupid -- which stifles people from learning and asking questions, since they wonder if they'll be next to leave.

No matter how good of an environment GitHub creates, nobody actually does their best work there. This is due to a culture that rewards politics and favoritism over merit and cultural contributions to the organization. There's a reason why GitHub alumni do great things once they leave the company. GitHubbers are becoming CEOs, Heads of Product, and leaders at other successful companies - it's surprising that GitHub simply considered them expendable. In addition, GitHub does not seem to understand how to reward and retain good employees, and it makes dubious decisions on staffing. You could be producing exceptional work one day but find yourself on a Performance Improvement Plan - or, even worse, shown the door and locked out of your accounts - the next. All of this boils down to an executive and management team that wildly varies in its ability to lead. Some have years of solid experience with just a few areas of growth needed; others are completely in over their heads and are given no true compass to follow, causing their departments to suffer. And since GitHub hasn't invested in a solid leadership development or career growth program - something it should have at 10 years of age and 700+ employees - it's not a place that I would advise anyone go to in order to take a positive step in their career.