I don’t remember exactly where, but I saw a comment about Citi being a toxic place to work, followed by a request for clarification. I don't recall the OP ever following up, but as a software engineer who’s been at Citi for some time now, I have my own thoughts. Maybe it’s just my specific bubble in CISO, but here’s my take:
Non-existent inter-team communication. It’s like a collection of medieval castles: no one talks to anyone on the outside unless you hold a certain title. God forbid you’re a peasant. The Indian hierarchy and culture only aggravate this further; if you want anything done or even answered, you're forced to escalate immediately.
Terrible product quality. I honestly don’t understand how people with such abysmal coding, problem-solving, and process-building skills get hired anywhere, let alone at a bank.
Leadership with a heavy stench of narcissism. Don’t even get me started on Tim Ryan. He’s single-handedly decided that along with his title, he inherited a flock. Now every Thursday, he delivers a sermon on how to live, think, and behave --- even dictating which tools to use for work he doesn't understand in the slightest. Oh yeah, I sh-t you not, he also travels worldwide to Citi branches with his "Roadshow."
If you’ve been laid off, it’s a blow, but please understand: in the long term, you are better off. It’s a toxic, ugly environment for any software person. Your skills won't just stall there --- they will die. And they'll do so quickly.