Working in Product at SoundHound has been a deeply disappointing experience. The company seems to lack a coherent direction, with leadership constantly chasing the latest tech trends without ever fully committing to or delivering on any of them. The sole focus of SoundHound appears to be on replacing minimum-wage fast-food workers with automation, which feels like a short-sighted and ethically questionable mission.
Leadership, particularly the COO, makes brash and impulsive decisions that are often poorly thought out. These decisions seem to prioritize short-term gains and self-interest over the long-term health and stability of the company. Information is frequently withheld from the team, leading to confusion and a sense that the leadership is more concerned with covering their own interests than fostering a transparent and collaborative environment. The recent 40% layoffs, while execs were awarded huge stock bonuses speaks volumes about the culture here.
Overall, the lack of vision, direction, and integrity in the leadership at SoundHound makes it a challenging and frustrating place to work. If you're looking for a company with a clear mission and leadership you can trust, this isn't the place.
For those who weren't laid off, the average tenure is about 15 years. So these aren't movers and shakers, just folks who are complacent, comfortable, and don't want to rock the boat.
