Toxic environment, heavy politics, competitive to an unhealthy degree, extreme hours, few resources, inflexible schedules
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No team is perfect, but the fact that Apex Leaders turns over nearly half their staff every two years is an indication of a deeply troubling workplace environment. One where hard work, dedication, and excellent results are not rewarded and underhanded leadership and office politics rule the teams' every decision. They work diligently to hide this with engineered reviews and awards, but if you speak to formers like I have recently, their experience was not positive.
In my time there I earned near-perfect quarterly and annual reviews, was called out repeatedly as an exemplary "A-player" who lived the core values. Yet when I asked for professional development or any meaningful growth plan that was explicitly promised in my offer letter and at reviews, I got only backlash and retaliation.
The leadership was very punishing at Apex Leaders, specifically the CEO. What he liked to refer to as 'ruthless execution' is a thinly veiled excuse for emotional bullying and manipulation. Within all layers of the company, I listened to colleagues regularly describe being at their wits end and constantly feeling like having to walk on egg shells. I felt the same.
The pressure under his leadership is unbearable and if he doesn't like you or identify with you, good luck getting anywhere in that company based on merit. Unfortunately, these fear tactics breed a team largely unwilling to expose themselves by voicing new ideas, raising opposing viewpoints, or challenging the organization to improve in meaningful ways beyond simply increasing the bottom line.
I did learn valuable skills in my time at the company, but the most valuable lesson I learned is there are much better places to work than Apex Leaders. Don't waste your energy.
