Executive leadership put value in product over people
Pros
Above fair compensation and benefits. Autonomy to do job without micromanagement. Worked with an amazingly talented team of technical leads and business people.
Cons
Executive team does not know how to run a company, let a lone a cell therapy start-up in the biotech industry. It was made clear that the top executives valued their product above their people, and failed to realize that it is the PEOPLE who make the product. TIL therapy is fraught with plenty of its own inherit challenges, which is exactly why a company needs to retain and reward the genius minds who can bring TIL therapy to fruition in the market. When Instil Bio announced a 60% reduction in workforce, horribly mismanaged how they went about the layoff announcements, and then backpedaled when the workforce spoke up, shows just how inept leadership is when it comes to running a business. To say this experience has jaded my idea of a cell therapy startup would be an understatement. For those 40% who will stay with the company, I would proceed with caution and make sure your resume is up to date...
