Navigating Corporate Life: Why Are Many Drawn to Large Organizations?

As someone who recently transitioned from a small company to a Fortune 500 corporation, I find myself grappling with a perplexing question: what attracts individuals to large organizations? My experience in corporate settings was less than favorable, and it seems I’m not alone in this sentiment.

For the first eight years of my career, I thrived in a small company environment—roughly 200 employees—with a flat organizational structure. In this setup, communication flowed smoothly, as we only had a few layers of management: the CEO, the immediate supervisor, and junior team members. It fostered a sense of camaraderie and support that allowed everyone to contribute positively to the organization’s goals.

However, upon joining a Fortune 500 company, the reality was starkly different. My experience felt like stepping into a different world, one rife with negativity, backstabbing, and lack of collaboration. I found myself embroiled in an environment where the focus shifted away from teamwork to scheming and gossip. Instead of striving for collective success, many seemed more concerned with undermining others for personal gain. I couldn’t reconcile this culture with my values, which led me to make the difficult decision to leave and explore entrepreneurship.

After nearly a decade of believing that diligence, teamwork, and mutual support were the keys to professional success, this new corporate landscape was shocking. It seemed that many spent their time devising ways to make colleagues appear incompetent, hoarding information instead of sharing it, and fostering an overall toxic atmosphere. Rarely did I see individuals genuinely invested in driving the company forward or uplifting their peers.

This leads me to ponder: what draws so many people to this type of environment? Is it inherent to the corporate culture, or is there something more fundamental at play? Are there those who wake up each day eager to be part of this system for decades on end without questioning its negativity?

While I recognize that my perspective is that of a newcomer to the corporate world, I can’t help but feel that the practices I observed were counterproductive. If the goal of any organization is to achieve success, why do these harmful behaviors persist? Is it truly the norm, or is it merely a misconception shared among those who feel trapped?

I seek clarity on this. My time in corporate life felt alien and disheartening, leading me to believe that there must be a different way to approach professional life—one that encourages collaboration and genuine