At a recent internal all-hands meeting led by X CEO Linda Yaccarino, employees tuned in anxiously to see if their concerns would be addressed. Rumors of performance reviews being delayed and missed revenue targets had left many on edge. The atmosphere was tense, with the looming fear of potential layoffs adding to the uncertainty.
Steve Davis, CEO of The Boring Company and a key lieutenant of Elon Musk, made a foreboding appearance at X’s headquarters in San Francisco. Described as the “grim reaper who only shows up for bad things,” his presence added to the already anxious environment within the company. With recent layoffs and the sudden departure of key personnel, employees were left wondering about the future of X under Musk’s ownership.
Yaccarino’s all-hands meeting opened with a montage of viral tweets, setting a somewhat disjointed tone for the discussion that followed. She attempted to generate excitement about upcoming live events on the platform, such as the Super Bowl and March Madness, while also mentioning the x.AI chatbot Grok. However, the focus on these initiatives seemed to lack a clear connection to the pressing concerns of the employees regarding promotions and raises.
During the meeting, X’s head of HR, Walter Gilbert, outlined plans for a more comprehensive promotion process that would include regular check-ins throughout the year. While this was intended to address some of the employees’ concerns, many felt that the bulk of their questions regarding HR, promotions, and raises went unanswered. The absence of Musk, who was in San Francisco at the time, further added to the sense of disconnect between leadership and the rest of the company.
Despite the absence of Musk, several directors joined the meeting to provide updates and insights. Monique Pintarelli, Nick Pickles, Kylie McRoberts, and Haofei Wang each offered their perspectives on advertising, policy, trust and safety, and engineering, respectively. However, the overall impression left by the meeting was one of uncertainty and a lack of clear direction.
The internal dynamics at X appear to be in a state of flux, with concerns about layoffs, missed revenue targets, and a delayed promotions process creating a sense of unease among employees. While efforts are being made to address some of these concerns, the disconnect between leadership and staff members remains a challenge that will need to be overcome for X to navigate through these turbulent times successfully.
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