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Bright minds blocked by middle management

Senior Performance Engineer
Current Employee
Has worked at Akamai Technologies for 6 years
October 11, 2019
4.0
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEO
Pros

In the right team, ideas spread and get realized. Performance gets rewarded (mostly via benefits). Akamai's social engagement is outstanding. Persistent market leader for a long time (if you count that as a 'pro'). A fast pace of consumer technology adaptation.

Cons

Individual performer culture (rather than teams).

The trend to acquire innovation rather than inventing/developing.

Very different quality of "middle management" education and leadership skills.

Poor culture of relationship-building in remotely cooperating teams.

No (effective) career management; difficult to change jobs within the company.

Advice to Management

If you hire smart people, listen to them, and motivate them – don't just delegate tasks top-down. This is what made Akamai (and any other tech giant) great in the first place. But that spirit has gone.

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