So much potential…squandered by insecure senior leadership
Pros
There are still some amazing people at the company (usually found at the Director level and below) that are bright, ambitious, and hardworking. The relationships you can form with these folks, across all areas of the business, will help you grow and become a better professional. While working alongside these people, you’ll get great exposure to the energy industry and are in a place to learn as much as you could possibly want given the number of experts that surround you.
Cons
Sadly, what used to be a thriving meritocracy has become strongly protected oligarchy by a group of cronies at the top of the company. Deeply rooted insecurities have made this group take on a “Game of Thrones” mindset of silencing or removing anyone who challenges their narrative, and the political theater that goes on to communicate to the masses is sign of the times. There have been multiple senior executives that have even come in from the outside that have been set-up to take the fall for other leader’s mistakes over the past few years (something to consider if thinking about VP or above positions) to help this group continue their grasp onto power. The ability to play politics and show loyalty to the oligarchy is the ultimate skill within the higher ranks, and the business has suffered as a result. Additionally, this insecurity around how to lead this type of organization in the current digital-driven world leads to short-term thinking / focus and a lack of willingness to commit to a strategy or path due to unrealistic expectations set by leadership who should understand better. This results in chasing the flavor of the month / quarter while competitors deeply invest in understanding market needs and commit to delivering valuable solutions. In today’s company, people thrive by being “Yes men / women” over delivering value. However, due to the continuously degrading business performance, not even this gets rewarded in a significant way unless you’re already sitting at the top.