- Chronic leadership instability. Senior leadership changes frequently, creating constant strategy shifts and organizational whiplash. Teams are repeatedly asked to pivot without clear rationale or follow-through.
- A strong HiPPO culture and favoritism at the top. Decisions, promotions and influence are driven by title and proximity to the CEO rather than data, customer insight, or demonstrated competence. Advancement often rewards loyalty and agreement over critical thinking, encouraging “yes-man” behavior and internal politicking instead of impact.
- Little accountability or retrospection. Initiatives launch based on instinct, then the company immediately moves on without measuring outcomes or learning from mistakes.
- Teams are routinely under-resourced while expectations remain extremely high. Headcount is reduced, scope is not, and burnout is widespread.
- Strategic functions are deprioritized or dismantled instead of strengthened. The complete elimination of the Product Marketing function is a particularly alarming example for a B2B SaaS company and will have long-term consequences for product clarity, go-to-market execution and customer alignment.