Where Ola failed at was getting the wrong leadership

I worked at Ola for a while, and I feel like there’s something important people don’t talk about enough - it wasn’t just the founder’s expectations that made the culture tough. A lot of it came from how things were handled by certain senior folks who shaped the day-to-day environment.

There was this constant fear in the air. People would get called out in front of everyone, sometimes over minor things. It wasn’t uncommon to see decisions that felt random - like being punished for not answering a call on a Sunday or for taking a day off. It left you on edge, always wondering if you’d be next.

What really struck me was how some people managed to rise up quickly, not because they were great at their jobs, but because they played the politics game well. Meanwhile, really talented folks who could’ve added so much value were either sidelined or pushed out. It was frustrating to see good ideas or real insights get ignored because someone higher up thought they knew better.

The result? Most of us ended up just keeping our heads down and doing the bare minimum to avoid trouble. The energy, the drive that startups are supposed to have - it felt missing.

A lot of my colleagues have since said they’re hesitant to join any startup again because of how burned out they felt after Ola. And honestly, I don’t blame them - I feel so too.

I really hope Ola turns things around. It has so much potential, but unless there’s a real shift in how people are treated, it’s hard to see that happening.