These next couple of months will be stressful for folks, I am sorry. That being said, saying everyone left VMware just because of the acquisition is just d-mb! Everyone has their own personal goals of what they want out of their job. Sure some folks ran from the logo, and I don't fault them for that. This place is very different then what it was a couple years ago. I would however call out this is not the same for everyone. VMware will always have a soft place in my heart. I learned a lot, and meet some great people. However I feel as though I did not run from something, but ran towards something else. I felt stuck, and wanted to grow my career I am excited for my new adventure. Please do not label everyone not sticking around because we "scared." Though you will anyways, you sound like an id**.
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chatgpt for ceo!
At least Pat dressed and spoke well.
What did Pat do to actually progress VMware? Check out the wiki text:
CEO of VMWare (2012-2021)
In 2012, he became the CEO of VMware,[2] where Gelsinger became a "seasoned CEO" and gained "new leadership skills."[16]
Pat basically spouted "multi cloud" "any device" yadda yadda. Continued making poor acquisitions, failed to properly envelop these acquisitions in the company culture and infrastructure, and basically just did what Joe Tucci needed him to do to ensure people at the very top got a giant payday.
Fast forward to 2023, we have what I argue is our first SaaS offering in the Plus product lines. Will it be successful? Probably not because while we might have a product, we will allow the customer to buy it, fail at it, and then create a 'new' offering selling the same stuff until our customers are totally fed up with the whole company.
“ Am I the only one that thinks it was all downhill after Pat left?!”
Considering how badly Intel are performing at the moment, Pat is no knight in shining armour, more like a clown on a donkey.
Am I the only one that thinks it was all downhill after Pat left?!
Great post. Personally I'm concerned about my future at VMware and have started to look elsewhere. I feel like there is too much uncertainty to stick around and see what happens. Although VMware has treated me great and it was a dream job.. but I see it changing everyday for the worse. Specifically the changes in the workforce who are no longer invested in the company or products. It's sad and wish everyone the very best during this unsettling time.
All good things do come to an end. Years and years of failed leadership led us here. The cancer now runs too deep and we cannot be saved. It's become extremely dysfunctional. No wonder a buyer like Broadcom comes in. I'm absolutely certain now that Dell sought them out. There is no other way to fix this company than the Hoc way. Sad as it is... it is the unfortunate truth. My own group has 99% people who you could ask Office Space style "Just what would you say you do here?" and the answer will be revealing.
I left mainly because of the acquisition. I previously worked at another large tech firm that sounds very similar to the kind of company that BC is and had no interest in that kind of atmosphere.. But I also left because my job was really stagnate. I was hired for a position to work on specific projects. Eventually all of the people tied to that project left and those who replaced them had no interest in it. So they didn't really know what to do with me and there were days where I had nothing to do. The acquisition gave me the kick in the pants I needed.
But even if the deal doesn't go through the VMW brand is now damaged. Its clear that the multi-cloud messaging isn't getting out and everyone still think VMW is strictly about virtualization- not helped by the company name. BC has eroded that image further. And its clear that if this deal fails there's still the problem of Michael Dell owning a controlling interest and wants to get his money back. Its a real shame that VMW was never allowed to be its own company and become held hostage by a few people with tons of money.
I really miss VMW. I was there longer than at any other company. The people there were genuinely nice. But I suppose all good things come to an end.