Strong product, but poor leadership and a deeply disappointing culture shift
Pros
The product itself had potential and solved real problems in the market • Some talented and hardworking individual contributors • Exposure to enterprise customers and complex implementations • Flexible working arrangements (at least on paper)
Cons
Senior leadership failed to build or protect an inclusive culture • Clear cultural decline after Advent Partners became involved • Decisions became increasingly investor-driven rather than people- or customer-focused • Poor communication, little transparency, and minimal empathy from the owners regardless of CEO updates • Dissenting views were not welcomed; “agree and comply” became the expectation • Inclusion and values were talked about externally but not lived internally • High staff turnover, especially among experienced leaders • Ultimately sold out to a direct competitor (Enable), leaving many employees feeling misled and disposable
