Loyalty Is Dead In Tech - by Nikunj Kothari - Balancing Act

Loyalty in tech has become a myth. When a CEO walks to a larger player, taking most of the team and leaving the rest with a stale mission, employees learn that mission statements are just recruiting pitches. The article cites recent Microsoft-Inflection and Amazon-Adept moves where only select engineers were retained, highlighting a pattern of licensing tech and cherry-picking talent while abandoning the original builders.

The piece argues that this betrayal undermines the unwritten oath between founders, investors, and employees-an oath to honor those who took risk and cut pay. As venture funds now back multiple competitors, the promise of exclusive backing evaporates, and employees face a choice: stay for a dwindling mission or chase the next offer. The author urges leaders to ask VCs about their portfolio overlap and to scrutinize founders' track records before committing.

For technical leaders, the takeaway is clear: prioritize people over short-term gains. Seek founders and investors who still value the original oath, who would rather grow slower than abandon their team. This mindset protects morale, reduces turnover, and builds sustainable organizations in an era where the oath is officially dead but true missionaries still exist.