Pros
The people on my team are the best part of this job. They're sharp, deeply committed, and willing to run at hard problems without being asked twice. Leadership has earned my trust by being honest about what's working and what isn't, and by owning their decisions when things don't land the way they hoped. The CEO is not perfect, but is open to feedback and visibly tries to grow, which I respect more than polish. The company recently took a hard look at pay and made meaningful adjustments, which sent a real signal to my team that they're valued. There's also a clear push to take smart risks and keep building forward, especially around agentic AI, and that energy is contagious when you're leading people through change.
Cons
The recent right sizing was painful. The teams that remain are sharper and more focused, but I watched good people leave, and that weight stays with you as a manager. Work life balance is treated like a topic we don't talk about, and I see the cost of that in my own team. People do their best thinking when they're rested, and right now the unspoken expectation is to always be on. Benefits sit at average or slightly below where they should be for a company asking this much of its people, and that gap is something my team notices.
