Why are OpenAI employees willing to walk out with their CEO?

Why are OpenAI employees willing to walk out with their CEO?

Dan Kasper

Nov 22, 2023

Yesterday, Sam Altman was reinstated as CEO of OpenAI, closing a chapter of an embarrassing saga for OpenAI and their board of directors. The primary lesson to be taken away from this saga is that culture matters and that a clear and universally understood mission statement is imperative for company wellbeing.

Have you ever heard of 95% of a company's employees ready to quit over the dismissal of their leader? It's pretty rare, right? Usually, firing a CEO is a boardroom drama that doesn’t ripple far into the ranks. If you weren’t tracking the whiplash headlines this week, here’s one of the most surprising tidbits in the drama: Almost the entire OpenAI team was ready to walk out the door with their CEO, Sam Altman. It wasn’t just that Sam Altman was an admired leader; it's more about how he embedded OpenAI's mission deep into the company’s DNA.

Maybe you remember when OpenAI shifted from a non-profit to a profit-capped entity back in 2018. That change sparked a clash of visions between Altman and the Board. Altman wasn't just running a company; he was nurturing a culture. By bringing in and supporting top-notch talent, he built a trust and loyalty fortress around his vision for a profit-driven OpenAI. Yet, this very approach put him at odds with the board.

Why does this matter to you? Because it's a classic example of the power of a compelling mission statement, transparency, and a strong company culture.

 

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