Leadership changes have only exacerbated existing problems - Software Engineer Ookla Employee Review

1.0
4 Dec 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

With recent leadership changes, the bright side is that management is more clear about project goals and timelines. This has traditionally been a weak point in my opinion.

Cons

The not so bright side of recent leadership changes is decreased openness, and increased secrecy. Layoffs are treated as something normal and a threat to force more productivity from workers, which they were not before. The historical problems of the engineering department have continued or gotten worse. A few engineers get to take on all the interesting work, and everyone else is treated as machines to crank out code. This creates a culture of scarcity and territorialism instead of collaboration. The promotion and pay raise criteria is opaque. Career growth is often actively hindered by leadership. I remember once asking for the company to pay for my ticket to a work conference so I could improve my skills, and was told I didn't contribute enough to justify it. Attempts to grow skills outside of your predefined role are treated as a problem instead of something to be cultivated. Bullying and condescending behavior are the norm for leadership, and the increased pressure for productivity by the new leadership team has only made this worse.

Explore other reviews about Ookla

5.0
7 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Exciting time to be at Ookla. I’m excited to see what this Accenture partnership brings.

Cons

None yet I’ve been here less than a year.

1.0
31 Jan 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Unlimited PTO, decent pay and permanent work from home. Work life balance is fine.

Cons

Since the founders were forced out, the new leadership has shown little passion or commitment to the product. Their continued presence appears driven more by personal financial incentives than by long-term vision. Although feedback is routinely collected, it is rarely acted upon, and many internal processes remain broken. Product quality has declined, with frequent issues reducing overall effectiveness. Hiring standards have deteriorated as well. While the company aspires to be a leader in its space, it lacks innovation and has instead settled into mediocrity. The culture has gone downhill, small perks have all been taken away.

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