Pros
What started off as a great, exciting, mission driven startup that “valued people”, “empowered creativity” and relentlessly led with the Core Values took a sudden turn to “nepotism”, “reckless” and plainly disappointing. Pro: It used to be the people, working with bright, fun and passionate people from all walks of life where there was a collective effort to build real relationships, spend time outside of the office together and enrich the greater MIA ecosystem. That is no longer the case.
Cons
Con: It turned into the people, leaders who ruled by fear and favoritism, making rash and reckless choices without strategic vision or consultation, creating a toxic and fear based workforce. Trust is a huge issue for this leadership team and its Founders. Trust corroded the foundation and continues to deteriorate the internal core of that organization. Mid-level leaders aren’t trusted or enabled to make choices, be developed and create solutions - they’re not supported and yet they are criticized and punished for any misstep or “misalignment” of their mindset Executive leaders don’t trust one another, politics and back-door dealings, gossip and undercutting amongst the department heads is both common and rarely, if ever confronted, let alone corrected Founders create false narratives to avoid words like ‘layoffs’ or ‘funding issues’, instead use words like ‘restructuring’ or a “shift in direction” - yes, you “restructured” with a LAYOFF to hedge for the continuation of your negative revenue issues and lack of funding… it’s the reality and lack transparency doesn’t make it less true, it just makes your staff lose more trust and your business suffer because the problems aren’t being faced head on Frontline workers are pressured, punished and openly ridiculed by the top most leadership figures - they’re fed a story and a ‘dream’ and any doubts or questions make them immediately vulnerable for separation, taking the notion of ‘at will employment’ to a dangerous level Revenue, compensation and market growth are stagnant, at best - there is no data to drive decisions, strategy for the competition or technology solutions to correct or compete, put the ego aside and take a real look at the landscape and where you sit in it Founders are great presenters aka “talkers”, but it’s clearer everyday that they are beyond their depths and the misplaced and fair-weather power they give new or ‘trusted’ leaders is crippling - no 1 person is your golden ticket, businesses should function as a machine, clicking and segmented to each specialization