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Notes -
I work in a startup, and know my CTO and CEO on a personal basis. The problem with personal leadership, as with family-owned restaurants, is that the quality is so variable. We've run through 3 CEOs in the time I've been at the company, each notably flawed in different ways, and my current CTO is a competent but over-promoted nepotist who hoards control and seems to believe that only people who grew up in his particular part of France can be trusted. My current manager is literally his old friend from university. This in an Asian company with employees from all corners of the globe.
Personal venting aside, my point is that although it’s probably better on average to work for someone you know, don’t romanticise a world where your quality of life depends purely on your personal relationships. Especially since we’re all weirdoes ;)
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