Interesting Work, Unclear Direction - Anonymous employee TrueNAS Employee Review

Great company. Well organized with a clear vision.

I cannot think of any cons.

The company genuinely had a strong, energetic culture in its early days. There was a real Silicon Valley startup vibe — innovative, collaborative, and exciting to be part of. People were passionate, teams moved fast, and it felt like everyone was genuinely working toward something meaningful. For a period, it was one of the better places I’ve worked in terms of culture, autonomy, and the sense that we were building something special. Unfortunately, that changed quickly once the company started seeing significant dollar signs. Growth and profit became the priority at the expense of the very culture that helped them succeed in the first place. The original spirit and values slowly faded as the focus shifted toward short-term financial gains, leading to many of the issues mentioned in the Cons section.

The company's core values sound excellent on paper, but the reality on the ground is very different. Our Core Values: Think People Before Profit Ultra Collaborative Trailblazers Pursue Kaizen What it actually looks like: Think People before Profit — if you have the right last name. Nepotism is rampant. Hiring, promotions, and job retention are far more dependent on who you know than what you know or what you deliver. The company claims to offer US-based support while laying off local employees and offshoring roles to the Philippines. Ultra Collaborative Trailblazers — Not really. Direction from leadership is often unclear or inconsistent. Several departments lack real management, and the approach feels more like “do it our way” (even when “our way” isn’t well defined). The team is trailblazing straight to the bottom rather than breaking new ground. Pursue Kaizen — Continuous improvement is nearly impossible when leadership decisions are actively harming the business. The company has given away significant portions of the business, heavily rebranded, and pushed through multiple rounds of layoffs. Sales numbers and morale have suffered as a result. Overall, the gap between the stated values and actual practices is large and disheartening. If you value competence, clear direction, and real continuous improvement, this may not be the right place long-term.