Pros
I really enjoyed my first two years at Numerade. The team was talented, collaborative, and genuinely passionate about improving education. There was a strong sense of ownership, and I had the opportunity to work on meaningful products. It was a great environment for growth.
Cons
Over time, leadership changes significantly impacted the culture. The CEO became increasingly involved in day to day decisions, leading to a more micromanaged environment. There was a noticeable lack of stability on the product side. At one point, around 8 product managers turned over within 10 months, with some leaving after only a month. This created inconsistency in direction and made it difficult for teams to build momentum. But also speaks to how difficult it was to work for this leadership.
It often felt like decisions were top down, with limited room for team input. It was more of a “my way or the highway” approach from the CEO. In contrast, the CTO demonstrated stronger leadership qualities, with a more thoughtful and team oriented approach.