Pros
SilverRail is a ideal blend for me of a big and small business. It has the positives of a new and nimble enterprise, offers greater sense of autonomy, some creative freedom, fewer rules, greater sense of impact. When I worked for a big tech company, I romanticised the lawlessness and rewarding nature of start-ups. Actually the frontline of an early stage start-up can be nerve-grindingly, pocket-emptyingly awful if things aren’t ‘right’. I did that too. SilverRail is not this. Sure, we are rolling with an evolving strategy - comfort with ambiguity essential - but there is a calm and considered manner to this journey. Healthy investment means we don’t have to be always scrappy and we do enjoy creature comforts. There is a great ying yang dynamic to the co-founders. There is a foundation of brilliant, methodical, open, warm, devoted, good people to this tech business.
Cons
Multiple locations mean we need to work harder to feel part of the one team. The grown –up nature of the business is a reflection of the grown up work force, certainly in London, there is not a big ‘after work drinks’ scene if that’s what is important to you. Its at the cross-roads of startup and 200 person global company, so we need some process for effective delegation and on boarding.