Quo reviews

Typical growing pains of a young startup, like understanding who the decision makers are, but there have been several senior leadership hires in the last 6 months.

When I first stepped into this company, the horizontal leadership structure and the ethos of every voice having equal weight stood out. But as time unfurled, a worrying transition towards a more hierarchical system became evident. What's particularly concerning is seeing many of the competent leaders either leave or be sidelined, while there's a noticeable trend of friends filling key leadership roles. Now, it feels as if being part of the 'popular group' is the only route to gaining respect and recognition. The same individuals seem to monopolize the kudos and award nominations, overshadowing the dedication of countless others. The recent push for an 'anonymous' survey, especially in light of their earlier apathy towards such initiatives, raises eyebrows. ‘Anonymous’ but declare which team you’re on. With the linchpin individual contributors increasingly overshadowed by a leadership lost in self-congratulatory echo chambers, the 'cheetah' mentality, as they dub it, seems less about agile operations and more a precursor to rapid burnout. Couple this with the continuous postponement of raises and promotions, and it paints a picture of disillusionment. The initial promise feels increasingly distant with each passing day.