IBM

Excellent direct management: My manager has been incredibly supportive—providing constructive feedback, assigning responsibilities that help me grow, and actively finding opportunities to build my skills. I’ve learned a lot because of this supportive leadership at the team level.

Opportunities to grow: There’s room to take on new challenges and expand your skill set if you’re proactive and have a good manager.

Decent insurance benefits: The health insurance (through Sun Life Financial) is okay and covers standard needs.

Flexible environment: The day-to-day work culture at the team level can be collaborative and encouraging.

Unstable leadership direction: Upper leadership tends to change decisions frequently, which creates uncertainty. For example, I’ve seen products canceled shortly after being described as “doing well.”

Lack of clear communication: Expectations from senior leadership are often unclear. Even important updates sometimes sound vague or contradictory.

Low-effort communication from executives: Some leaders rely on AI-generated emails, which can come across as impersonal or poorly written — not what you’d expect from someone at a VP level.

Compensation not competitive: Salaries for software developers at IBM in Canada often stay below $120K, which is lower compared to many other companies in the industry.

Leadership inconsistency vs team strength: While team managers can be fantastic, the gap between team-level and executive-level leadership can be frustrating.

Be more transparent and consistent in your decisions. When products are canceled or strategies change, communicate clearly and honestly with employees. Senior leaders should lead by example, using clear, professional communication, especially in official announcements. Also, review compensation to stay competitive with the market and retain strong talent.