WeWork Part 3: Is Naked Pete Coming to Summer Camp?
07/02/20 • 33 min
3 Listeners
To its thousands of employees, WeWork was much more than a job. Founder Adam Neumann leveraged his employees’ emotions to motivate them. In exclusive tapes obtained by Bloomberg, Adam lectured employees that working at WeWork was special: “You do not get a chance like this again.”
In this episode, a former employee describes the tumultuous experience of working inside WeWork’s headquarters, from their raucous parties to the late night meetings.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
To its thousands of employees, WeWork was much more than a job. Founder Adam Neumann leveraged his employees’ emotions to motivate them. In exclusive tapes obtained by Bloomberg, Adam lectured employees that working at WeWork was special: “You do not get a chance like this again.”
In this episode, a former employee describes the tumultuous experience of working inside WeWork’s headquarters, from their raucous parties to the late night meetings.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Previous Episode
WeWork Part 2: The Bar Is Now at Your Desk
WeWork sold office space, but also it sold something else: fun. Beer flowed freely, members partied at the office, and your work was your life. But getting these offices off the ground was utter chaos, especially for the burgeoning company’s young, inexperienced workers. In this episode, reporter Ellen Huet takes a look at WeWork’s early days, when the company was growing so fast that some buildings opened without doors or functioning bathrooms.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Next Episode
WeWork Part 4: WeWork Sued Her the Same Day
What happened at WeWork when things got ugly between the company and its employees? As WeWork expanded, a handful of employees wanted to speak out and interrupt the public image that WeWork was presenting to the world. In this episode, reporter Ellen Huet follows the stories of two former workers, some of the first insiders to speak up about what they saw on the job.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Foundering - WeWork Part 3: Is Naked Pete Coming to Summer Camp?
Transcript Summary
In this episode of the podcast, titled "WeWork Part 3: Is Naked Pete Coming to Summer Camp?", we delve into the experiences of employees at WeWork and uncover the intense pressure and burnout they face. One employee shares their struggle with the demanding work environment, where loyalty and dedication to the company are emphasized by CEO Adam. However, some employees feel manipulated by WeWork's messaging and culture. The promise of equity serves as a motivation, with some believing they will get rich through their stake in the company. As tensions rise and stress accumulates, employees eventually leave WeWork. With new hires flooding in, massive orientations are held every Monday. CEO Adam Neumann's myth making and salesmanship drive the company's expansion, attracting engineers and executives from tech companies. Former employees reveal that WeWork hires young, inexperienced workers who adapt to the chaotic environment. Anxiety plagues executives, whose lives seem dictated by Neumann. Additionally, we explore Summer Camp, an extravagant employee bonding event funded by WeWork. It features inspiring speeches, flashy performances, and famous musicians. Tune in to unravel the captivating stories within WeWork and gain insights into the realities of this influential company.
Transcript
It's we Work is growing super fast, which means it's hiring a lot of new people. And every Monday at we Works headquarters in New York City, that means one thing. New hire orientation orientations were massive. They were huge, Like they were every Monday almost. I feel like they were almost every single Monday, huge breakfast spread. Cody Quinn was an executive assistant at we Work. You know, they've got like a projection screen every single morn
WeWork Part 3: Is Naked Pete Coming to Summer Camp? Top Questions Answered
How did WeWork attract investors through hype and myth-making?
WeWork attracted investors by using hype and myth-making to accelerate its expansion and create a perception of success and growth.
What kind of work environment did WeWork create to impress investors?
WeWork created a fake work culture known as "activating the space," which was performative and aimed at impressing investors.
What were some of the extravagant parties organized by WeWork for its employees?
WeWork organized extravagant parties, such as the annual Summer Camp, which featured famous musicians and expensive activities.
How did WeWork motivate its employees through events like Summer Camp?
WeWork used events like Summer Camp to exhaust the workforce and then reignite their motivation.
How did WeWork emphasize the importance of meaning and intention to inspire employees?
WeWork's CEO, Adam Newman, talked about the importance of meaning and intention to inspire employees and create a sense of purpose.
Did WeWork intentionally pay employees less than what they could earn elsewhere?
Yes, in taped meetings, Adam Newman admitted that WeWork intentionally pays employees less than they could earn elsewhere.
How did WeWork create a sense of community and camaraderie among its employees?
Many employees at WeWork felt a sense of community and camaraderie in their challenging jobs, which helped them to cope with the stressful environment.
What led some employees to leave WeWork?
Some employees, like Cody, eventually left WeWork because they couldn't sustain their lives while working for the company.
How did WeWork try to motivate employees through high-pressure tactics?
WeWork's CEO, Adam Newman, used high-pressure tactics to motivate employees, emphasizing the unique opportunity and stakes of working at WeWork.
What will the next episode of the podcast explore regarding WeWork?
The next episode will explore employees who fought back against the intense environment at WeWork.
Show more Questions
Show more Questions
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/foundering-43209/wework-part-3-is-naked-pete-coming-to-summer-camp-5198398"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to wework part 3: is naked pete coming to summer camp? on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy