Because of the small size, and management/senior staff who have been around 10 years, there really is no path for moving up in this company. Even lateral movements into other departments was explicitly discouraged when I interviewed--they made it clear I was hired to do one thing, and I had no other options--which is strange, as I have had many interviews elsewhere where managers boast of the opportunities to move around. It's indicative of the general paralysis in the company culture. The people I work with are great, there is a layer of management I have never spoken to that sit 20 feet away... why is that? I have no idea what they do.