Pros
If you're considering joining OpenGov, then you’re likely drawn to its mission of transforming how governments allocate and spend public money. Just wait until you see how broken many governments’ financial systems are…it’ll blow your mind. Fixing this sad reality is core to the company’s DNA.
A lot of startups may talk about their fulfilling work, but working to improve our government takes it to a different level. Here’s proof: I interned at OpenGov during my senior year of college before joining full-time, and found the work rewarding enough to effectively work full-time at the expense of many social activities that come with the last year in college. The work is that cool and important for our country.
My colleagues, from the CEO to new hires, recognize the mission’s gravity and take the work seriously. The company treats its customers with respect, and every team works hard to think of new ways technology can help those in government and the citizens they serve. My coworkers also displayed a lot of grit, an important trait to have when working with government.
Beyond the mission, there are several other things about OpenGov worth highlighting:
First, the company has some of the smartest people I have ever met. That means I learn a lot from conversations both about work and about other topics.
Second, OpenGov is a fun place to work. Happy hours, company outings, and an overall fun work environment are core parts of OpenGov's culture.
Third, the company is achieving significant traction in its core verticals: budgeting, reporting, and open data (transparency).
Fourth, the CEO. Zac does an incredible job of rallying the company behind the mission and supporting employees’ career development. He has hired an executive team that will guide the company to new heights. No CEO is perfect, and Zac knows this. He works hard to take feedback and learn from it. Zac took a step of sharing feedback from a 360 review during an “all hands” meeting and went into a lot of detail. This displays humility and a desire to improve–and this willingness to hear honest feedback and improve helps Zac earn the team’s respect.
Fifth, OpenGov gives employees the opportunity to grow quickly in their roles and offer input into strategic decisions. During my second week as an intern, I got to participate in high-level meetings around naming and positioning a core product. Even as the company has gotten bigger, it has not lost this ability to involve even junior employees in key discussions. The executive team also takes the time to explain the thinking behind key decisions and solicit feedback.
Sixth, OpenGov goes out of its way to create mentorship opportunities for employees. Any senior person in the company will sit down with you and provide advice. I have found several lifelong mentors at OpenGov.
Finally, OpenGov supports its employees when it’s time for them to move on. I left OpenGov to pursue an earlier stage opportunity, and I have been in awe how supportive the OpenGov team has been. This drove home the company’s care for its people, and I am now more confident than ever that, whenever I find a smart friend interested in government, I should send them OpenGov’s way. It’s a company with a massive opportunity, a killer team, and a great culture.
Cons
Like any company, OpenGov has its issues. It’s important to be honest about them, but also remember that at a startup, the processes a company has in place to iterate on its flaws are just as important. OpenGov has shown a very good ability to honestly address its flaws, and many problems I saw when I joined are now fixed. It’s also part of the fun of being at a startup and helping think through these challenges.
First, any company that scales can struggle to transition from having top management involved in every decision to delegating. OpenGov’s top management has had this issue, but it’s gotten a lot better because of feedback. I think the company has more to go here, but it’s made a lot of progress and will likely continue to do so. Trust is a company value, and I think trusting a team to do the job is core to that…the company recognizes this and is working to improve.
Second, the company must continue its efforts to focus. It’s easy to chase after deals or verticals beyond our core mission or market if they provide quick revenue. OpenGov does a good job for the most part of resisting this temptation, but there is room for improvement. Over the last couple of months, the company has gotten very focused as the executive team charts a path for the next couple of years. I hope these efforts continue.
