April 24, 2023

Should I join (or leave) an ex-hypergrowth company?

Should I join (or leave) an ex-hypergrowth company?

In this episode of 'The Skip' podcast, host Nikhyl Singhal discusses the challenges and implications of ex-growth companies in the current market landscape. He delves into the consequences of overvaluation, the impact on employees and company culture, and the emergence of a new crop of prudent, conservative growth companies. Nikhyl provides valuable insights for those considering joining or staying in X-growth companies and emphasizes the importance of exploring other stages of companies for more lucrative opportunities.

In this episode of 'The Skip' podcast, host Nikhyl Singhal discusses the challenges and implications of ex-growth companies in the current market landscape. He delves into the consequences of overvaluation, the impact on employees and company culture, and the emergence of a new crop of prudent, conservative growth companies. Nikhyl provides valuable insights for those considering joining or staying in ex-growth companies and emphasizes the importance of exploring other stages of companies for more lucrative opportunities.

Time-codes:

00:00:00 Introduction to the episode focused on growth companies and ex-growth companies.

00:02:00 Explanation of the three main stages of companies: startups, growth companies, and big tech or late-stage technology companies.

00:05:00 Market shift towards sustainability, impacting growth companies and their focus on innovation.

00:07:00 The challenges faced by executive teams in ex-growth companies as they transition from growth to sustainability.

00:10:00 - Executives are getting fired or layered in growth management teams due to skills mismatch or other factors, leading to organizational changes.

00:12:00 - The cultures in hypergrowth companies are becoming more aggressive and toxic as CEOs exert pressure and anxieties increase.

00:13:00 - Compensation was great in these companies, but with the drop in valuations, executives are making significantly less than they expected.

00:17:00 - Advice for individuals in or considering joining an ex-growth company: the culture will likely worsen, equity may not generate expected returns, and exits may not happen easily.

00:23:00 - Nikhyl discusses the consequences of overvaluation and adjusting expectations in terms of growth and valuation.

00:25:00 - He highlights the potential resentment and frustration among employees who feel undervalued while contributing to the company's survival and eventual success.

00:26:00 - Nikhyl points out the existence of a new crop of growth companies that are more prudent and conservative, offering a more attractive option for job seekers.

00:28:00 - He emphasizes the need to be wary of ex-growth companies and consider other stages of companies that could be more lucrative.

 

Don't forget to subscribe to The Skip to hear Nikhyl and other executives teach unique and timely career lessons.