Tough culture, unclear strategy, frequent reorganizations
Pros
• Some talented colleagues who genuinely try to do the right thing every day. • Exposure to many responsibilities early, which can accelerate learning for self-starters. • Opportunity to work with retailers across Saudi Arabia and see the market up close. • Decent tech stack and tools for day-to-day work, though adoption is inconsistent. • If you thrive in ambiguity, you will never be bored here.
Cons
• In my experience, leadership relies on top-down directives with limited room for healthy pushback. • Decision-making often feels reactive, with shifting priorities and frequent changes to teams and roles. • Culture tolerates yes-man behavior; dissenting viewpoints are discouraged and sometimes penalized. • I observed favoritism and perceived conflicts of interest, which undermined trust and accountability. • Layoffs and reorganizations created instability and uncertainty about product and company direction. • Product bets were frequently based on assumptions rather than validated customer insights or data. • Metrics change mid-quarter, making success criteria unclear and performance reviews feel arbitrary. • Hiring appears to value pedigree, then overrides expertise with prescriptive instructions from above. • Cross-functional alignment is weak; sales promises and product readiness are often out of sync. • Psychological safety is low; people hesitate to surface risks, mistakes, or realistic delivery timelines. • Career paths and promotions lack transparent criteria, leading to disengagement and attrition. • Workload spikes are common, with weekend or late-night asks framed as “urgent” without planning. • Negative talk about former employees hurts morale and damages the employer brand internally. • Feedback loops from customers are sporadic; learnings rarely translate into durable product roadmaps.
