I was contacted by an external recruiter. They required me to sign a NDA, and then presented several pretty ambiguous questions, in advance, about their product for the first interview. I can't go into more specific detail really because of the NDA, but these questions were reframed/regurgitated in the interview itself.
I did the preparation requested because it was a highly relevant role to my experience, despite how unusual it was for a first round, but it was a seriously bizarre interview. I was asked very little about my actual experience and ability to implement what they were looking for. I was interrupted mid explanation several times to get an answer that I was just about to deliver - a staggering lack of active listening and patience by one of the interviewers in particular which became really frustrating to get through. I swear it wasn't an issue of word vomit on my part - it came across as a shallow attempt to be authoritative.
Once I'd more or less delivered all my ideas, the interview ended very abruptly. On reflection, it was pretty obviously a shakedown for knowledge and that was it. All the signs were there ahead of the interview in fairness. The furious note taking was pretty nakedly on show too.
Oh and to top it off, their feedback was impossible to take any action on. A vague comment about culture with no specific examples - something I'm not sure they could realistically assess based on what they asked me, other than me not being submissive in their questioning style.
I think they are probably pretty good at what they do, clearly well connected in their niche - but if you're going for a technology leadership role with them, I'd be wary. I doubt they are genuinely hiring for the role I interviewed for. This is a fairly well known approach in many marketing circles when mining for ideas.