Vantaggi
- The employees at MicroStrategy are great (for lower-level, and many mid-level managers). You'll create workplace comradery that will last beyond your tenure here
Svantaggi
- The main problem with MicroStrategy is its senior leadership. The CEO does not operate as a CEO. When you read those viral LinkedIn posts describing “micro-managers,” this CEO fits the bill to a T. - Worse than the micro-management is the CEO’s breathtaking willingness to embarrass, criticize or undermine his direct reports (often in front of their own direct reports). In an almost Napoleon-esque fashion, the CEO will go out of his way to demonstrate his power/influence over his subordinates and, in turn, quickly erode any sense of true culture or comradery at the organization (save a united dislike of the CEO himself). - The CEO was quoted directly from a sales kickoff event saying “If you’re wanting to get home in time for dinner with your family, maybe this isn’t the right culture fit for you.” He’s quoted from a multitude of employees asking, “what’s more important—money or family?” With his clear preference being money (and an expectation that you’ll answer the same). - This company just finished its “voluntary layoff” season, prompting dozens (if not, hundreds) of employees to take severance packages before an inevitable layoff schedule that will probably last for months. - The strange environment here stems from where the true money is. While the CEO has presided over a consistent and continued decline in revenue and shrinking of the overall business ever since he joined the org as CFO 9 years ago, the company’s stock price has seen the opposite trajectory. Thanks to massive investments in Bitcoin, the company's stock has become a de-facto proxy to investing in Bitcoin itself. If you're curious about this, look up Bitcoin's price trajectory since 2020, then draw out MicroStrategy's stock trajectory during that same period. They follow in perfect harmony. - That said, the CEO has not had to be held accountable for the shrinking software business that was approaching $600M in 2014 and has now dipped below $500M. Even with that revenue decline, who really cares when the stock price is up 500% over 4 years? MicroStrategy is truly one of one when it comes to this investment strategy which, so far, has paid off. And this review is not a commentary or critique of Bitcoin, but more to point out that the CEO's incredibly unsuccessful tenure here has been shielded in smoke and mirrors by a booming Bitcoin strategy that he has no responsibility for delivering on (this strategy and execution came from the company's founder, Michael Saylor). - Culture begins (and ends) at the top. And over the past decade, employees have witnessed first-hand the negative impact that a bad CEO can have on an entire company's culture. From collaborative to survivalist. From rooted in shared values to shrouded in secrecy, gossip and back-stabbing. Being that MicroStrategy is local to the DC-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) area, it's worth pulling a relevant metaphor. Dan Snyder became owner of the (at the time) Washington Redskins more than 20 years ago. Over that period, he destroyed the fanbase, the culture, and the united passion for the team and the sport. What we've seen at MicroStrategy can only be described as the same outcome, but for a smaller organization over a much shorter period of time. - If you are considering working here, I would recommend not moving forward with any consideration. There could not be a worse time to be joining this company.