Layoff at Pocket FM? There is more behind.
It’s not just about the layoffs. It’s about how they are being done.
Seeing good performers being pushed to accept “Not Met Expectations” ratings is honestly heartbreaking. (link) This doesn’t feel like the same Pocket FM I once joined.
The culture and DNA of the company started changing after the Series D funding came in. From 2024 onwards, there was a wave of new leaders entering the organisation, along with their internal power circles becoming stronger. One such group, often referred to internally as the “Byju’s cartel,” was built with friends and families of the Function Head. It has gained the maximum influence, with the Function head turned out to be the CEO's right hand. He is now the second most powerful voice in the company.
What is even more disappointing is the lack of empathy in the system today. Someone who had just become a father was shown the door, while another leader from the so-called “Byju cartel” was promoted during maternity leave. The contrast says a lot about the priorities being rewarded internally.
What hurts the most is watching the old culture disappear. Many of the people who stood by the company during its toughest days are now leaving. Somewhere along the way, the founders seem to have forgotten that these were the people who helped build the company when things were difficult — not the opportunistic leaders who joined later when the company started seeing money and growth.
That’s the saddest part of it all.
I am from the Content team, and this is my first Reddit post. I am raising these concerns here because, internally, it feels like I have completely lost my voice amidst the culture and corruption I have witnessed first-hand at Pocket FM.