Rude and unprofessional CEO - Software Engineer Emma (UK) Employee Review

2.0
7 Jan 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Since this is a start up with a smaller engineering team, you actually write code and see it pushed to prod quite often. This might seem like a con initially if you come from a more laid back environment which was my case but you will walk away with a certain sense of accomplishment being able to exercise your engineering skills. The CTO Antonio knows his stuff and code reviews typically involve a weekly 1 on 1 with him where I usually walked away with valid input and criticism that helped me grow as a developer.

Cons

Now for the reason why I'm giving a low rating. The CEO Edoardo exhibits a rude and unprofessional demeanor towards his employees. Below I've listed the reasons why I hold this opinion; 1. He does not like people talking in the office. He would tell people to shut up while others are present and often drops passive aggressive messages in slack channels to tell people to be quite. This created an office culture where people feel uncomfortable talking to each other openly. He would say "If you're talking, you're not working" which is grossly incorrect in my opinion. 2. There is no unified standard or guideline on performance. He often cracks the metaphorical whip and tells people to work harder and that "They can't afford to keep people that slows them down"(Which he mentions often). That in itself isn't so bad but when you approach either him or the CTO Antonio on whether or not your performance is satisfactory they're reluctant to give you a straight forward answer which means no one really knows whether or not they are meeting expectations. This causes a lot of stress in the office. 3. He cites that work should consume you and work life balance should tilt towards in favor of work (I wish I was exaggerating when I say this). 4. He snaps/clicks his fingers at people as a way to get peoples attention. 5. He often abruptly slams his desk. Which isn't bad by itself but paired with the quite office environment he fosters it comes across as short tempered. I'll list a few personal interaction I've had with him that ultimately led to me handing in my notice: 1. He rejected vacation time because he didn't want me to work 4 day work weeks in my probation period despite me having accrued the days. 2. He tried to assert my attendance to an after work engineering conference with a 2 day notice. I refused stating that I had made commitments which he then said that it was not optional while there was nothing in my contract stating that. I might come across as some disgruntled employee but I genuinely don't hold any animosity towards him. I do believe that he devotes his life to the company but I think he doesn't put enough attention to the people who are actually moving it forward.

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Emma (UK) Response
7mo
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I’m genuinely sorry to hear that your time at Emma didn’t meet your expectations. I’d like to address a few points directly, while keeping this respectful for everyone involved. 1. Our office environment We work in person because we believe deeply in collaboration and high-speed execution. That said, people do talk, pair, brainstorm and spend plenty of time together. I personally don’t tell people to “shut up,” and we don’t foster an environment where people can’t speak to each other. We regularly encourage teams to sit together, collaborate and get feedback early. 2. Performance expectations We operate at a fast pace, and we try to give people clarity through weekly 1:1s, written expectations, and monthly check-ins. If at any point expectations weren’t clear, that is on me, and we are actively improving how we communicate performance standards across engineering and the wider team. 3. Work life balance We expect focus during working hours, but we don’t expect work to consume anyone’s life. Plenty of the team leave at a normal time, have families, hobbies and commitments outside the office, and we support that. 4. Personal conduct I have never snapped fingers at anyone or intentionally acted disrespectfully towards a member of the team. I care deeply about creating a high-performance environment, but never one that makes people feel uncomfortable. I’m sorry if any interaction came across that way, that was not the intention. 5. Time off and events Holiday approvals always follow the same policy for every employee. We also host optional events for the engineering team. No one is required to attend anything outside working hours. We are constantly learning and evolving as a company. I genuinely appreciate all feedback, including the tough parts, because it helps us build a better workplace and improve how we lead. I wish you all the best in your next role. Edoardo

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5.0
16 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The biggest pro for me is the lack of corporate structure; there's less bureaucracy and more trust. I have direct channels to the CEO, and I'm not restricted by a narrow job description. I have the chance to contribute in different areas; everything feels collaborative, and I don’t feel like I’m being micro-managed. That gives me a real sense of responsibility when it comes to getting the work done, rather than feeling infantilised. It has allowed me to grow my skill set because I’m trusted to work at my own pace, which has actually encouraged me to work harder and faster than I would in an environment where I felt constantly stressed or pressured by unrealistic standards of perfection. The workload can be heavier on some days, but again, you’re given ownership over how you manage it. On quieter days, I’m able to catch up on any outstanding tasks as well as find new ones. As someone who has managed web development projects before, I’m really happy that I’m able to contribute beyond customer service. I get to help with things like writing copy for webpages, spotting errors, troubleshooting issues, and constantly working on improving the product, rather than feeling limited to just customer service. The office feels relaxed, and I also get the chance to take on different tasks outside of my main role. Customer service is a small part of that, but I’m not limited to just one area. There is always room for growth and expansion within my role, and I feel like a level of ownership is encouraged in a way that feels similar to a more senior position. I’ve worked in environments in the past where you weren’t really treated like an adult, or where your character could be judged from one small interaction right from the start. Here, I feel like I’m given the space to prove my work ethic and develop naturally, which makes a big difference. I also communicate a lot with the developers and designers, and I feel like my ideas are genuinely heard. There is always a constant element of learning involved, which may not be the perfect fit for everyone, but it definitely is for me. Everyone has been super friendly as well, and I feel comfortable reaching out whenever I have questions. There are also socials and office lunches, which is very generous.

Cons

I honestly haven't had any problems :)

5.0
7 Jan 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Emma is one of the fastest moving places I’ve worked. Decisions are made quickly, ownership is real, and impact is obvious. If you want to ship meaningful work that reaches hundreds of thousands of users, this is the place. The bar is high and that is very intentional. People here care deeply about quality, speed, and outcomes. There is no hiding behind process or meetings. If you are good, you will be trusted and given responsibility very early. Strong founder presence. Leadership is extremely involved in product, growth, and strategy, which means clarity of direction and very little politics. You always know what matters and why. In-office culture is a big plus if you like energy, momentum, and learning from others. Being together five days a week makes collaboration faster and standards clearer. The company is scaling quickly and you feel it every day. New features, new hires, new challenges. It is not stagnant or comfortable, in a good way.

Cons

This is not a relaxed environment. Expectations are high and feedback is direct. If you want a slow pace, lots of hand holding, or a 9 to 5 mindset, this will not be a good fit. The pace can feel intense at times, especially during big launches or growth pushes. You need to be comfortable with pressure and prioritisation. Because the company moves fast, things are not always perfectly polished internally. You have to be comfortable with some ambiguity and figuring things out as you go.

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