Pros
amazing work model, culture and potential pre-2021
Kontras
2021 new executive cohort (above and below CEO) didn't understand Topcoder's brand, industry, business strategy + execution or people management. Spent more time on engineering process, building individuals' favorite ideas, and trendy Valley work methodologies than core differentiators & value drivers for the business, Perpetually detached decision-making from accountability. Immediately started losing money, customers, people, High-performing execs read the room or dissented then read the room... and quickly departed. Brought a new & capable CEO in, but to a preset table and effectively neutralized him from the beginning. Used multiple layoffs to try and hide performance issues, and made of habit of losing in general. There's an amazing case study here on what happens when individual careerists following textbooks and benchmarks displace a culture focused on advancing thought and creating the new value textbooks (and academic research, and Harvard innovation classes, etc. etc.) are based on.