Microsoft

What I really enjoy about working at Microsoft is the quality of the people (many of them truly world-class!), the high-performing company culture that pushes everyone to get better every day, the tremendous opportunities for learning/training, and the huge impact employees can have on the world through Microsoft's products.

Like in any big organization, there is some red tape and politics that get in the way of agility. While this is necessary sometimes, overall it puts the company at a disadvantage when compared to smaller, more agile competitors.

Promotions take longer and longer to get once above a certain level, so it takes a lot of patience and continuous great work to get ahead.

Work-life balance has improved over the past years in general, but it's still an issue.

I'd love to see Microsoft reclaim its previous ability to lead the industry and be the innovative company we all signed up to work for. Apple, Google, and even smaller competitors are eating our lunch, and Microsoft is playing catchup in many product lines. Instead of reacting and desperately trying to match competitors' offerings, I'd like Microsoft to be the market leader in innovation, execution, and customer service. I want the "coolness" factor put back into the Microsoft brand, and I want management to take bold action in this direction.