DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ New Side Hustle: Sharing About Your Work, Salary, Job on LinkedIn, TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Mae Rice | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

According to one California-based study, the professions that saw the highest excess-death rates in 2020 all required in-person work: transportation-and-logistics workers, food-and-agriculture workers, and manufacturing workers. These influencers also noticed that sharing behind-the-scenes work content got engagement. Natasha Badger, a customer-marketing associate at LinkedIn, also sparked heated discussion with TikTok day-in-the-life vlogs set in LinkedIn's Chicago offices. For some, the profusion of social content about work perks and struggles is getting in the way of actual work. Despite the skepticism he's encountered on his job search, Space said his TikTok account has been worth it.

☆ Some Twitter staff were told to listen to a podcast hosted by 2 of Elon Musk's advisers for 'insights' into mass layoffs, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Twitter's health team was instructed to listen to tech podcast "All In," Platformer reports. In the podcast, Musk advisers David Sacks and Jason Calacanis discussed Silicon Valley layoffs. Staff were told the podcast "provides some insight into why this is happening/necessary," Platformer reported. The hosts celebrated Musk's decision to layoff 50% of Twitter's staff, despite criticism and lawsuits brought against the company. On the podcast, Sacks explained that he and Calacanis don't have official roles at Twitter, but "are just pitching in and helping out while Elon establishes his permanent team."

☆ Tech investor says Elon Musk's decision to 'cut deep' in Twitter layoffs could set a new standard for Silicon Valley
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tech investor David Friedberg said Twitter's layoffs could encourage other companies to follow suit. Elon Musk laid off about 50% of Twitter's staff, while other tech companies have had more conservative cuts. Tech investor David Friedberg said Musk's cost-cutting measures at Twitter could quickly become a new Silicon Valley standard as companies struggle to address the economic downturn in the months to come. Twitter staff were told to listen to the podcast episode to learn why layoffs were necessary, according to tech newsletter Platformer. However, some experts have pointed to Musk's layoffs — which were conducted via blunt emails signed by "Twitter" — as an example of what not to do.

☆ The 6 most interesting quotes from the podcast hosted by Elon Musk's friends that Twitter staff were reportedly told to listen to amid layoffs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Some Twitter staff were told to listen to a podcast hosted by Elon Musk's associates, Platformer reported. A Twitter VP reportedly told staff it would provide insight into why layoffs were necessary. David Sacks and Jason Calacanis — two of Musk's close associates who have stepped in to help him at Twitter — also cohost the show. 'Just helping a friend'During the podcast, Sacks and Calacanis attempted to clarify their new roles at Twitter. It later emerged that they were likely practical jokers pretending to be laid off Twitter staff.

☆ Elon Musk and a key adviser have discussed putting all of Twitter behind a paywall, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk and a key adviser have discussed paywalling all of Twitter, Platformer reported. The plans could see a monthly limit on how many tweets users can view, the report said. Any plan is a way off, however, with the current focus being on Twitter's proposed paid verification. Platformer reports that Twitter could be free for a certain amount of time each month, before a metered paywall kicks in. On Monday, Musk said that Twitter usage has hit an all-time high, but the platform has also seen many users leave.

☆ An early Twitter investor says Elon Musk is 'straight-up alone' and 'winging' his rapid changes to the social media giant
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sacca, an early Twitter investor, referred to Musk's approach to Twitter as "move fast and alone." Speaking about Musk, Sacca said: "I've recently watched those around him become increasingly sycophantic and opportunistic. Sacca said that Twitter would only succeed if Musk added some "desperately needed nuance." Sacca, who was once one of Twitter's biggest shareholders, has been an outspoken critic of the company over the years. He joked on Monday that he was worried he'd get kicked off the platform for posting the thread about Musk.

Imitation is said to be the sincerest form of flattery — although Twitter owner Elon Musk may not see it that way. The decisions to lock all three out of their Twitter accounts come as Musk, a self-proclaimed "free speech absolutist," draws intense scrutiny for how he handles speech issues on the platform. Griffin, Klein and Sommer all appeared to change their account names on their verified profiles to "Elon Musk" without indicating that they were parodying his account. As of Monday morning, many Twitter accounts still featured "Elon Musk" in their display names, while others added the "parody" disclaimer. In a caption to one of the screenshots, Klein wrote: "Comedy is dead elon musk killed it."

Elon Musk seems determined to remake Twitter in his own image — with some help from the men in his trusted inner circle. They are joined in Musk’s orbit by Alex Spiro, a trial attorney with a roster of celebrity clients who reportedly led the first round of Twitter layoffs. Bloomberg reported Wednesday night that Twitter is preparing to eliminate about 3,700 jobs, or roughly half its workforce. Musk's personnel decisions suggest a possible road map for the future of Twitter, one in which policies and internal rules are drawn at least in part from the views of Musk’s consiglieres. Sacks, Calacanis, Spiro and Birchall did not immediately respond to questions about the company’s future and the nature of their roles there.

☆ Twitter reportedly ready to cut about 3,700 employees
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Twitter employees are expecting a 50% overall reduction in force after Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk took the reins of the social network last week. Gracias is a long-time investor in Musk's other companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, and was a Tesla board member. A calendar item for the reduction in force related meeting was made widely visible, possibly accidentally, to employees at Twitter on their internal systems. As CNBC previously reported, Musk quickly brought many trusted advisors and employees from his other companies into Twitter to advise him on next steps after the deal closed last week. After acquiring Twitter for $44 billion last week, Musk is scrambling to improve margins, including by slashing headcount and operating expenses and finding new ways to generate revenue.

☆ Twitter’s C-suite clears out as Musk cements power over the company
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

In less than a week since Musk acquired Twitter, the company’s C-suite appears to have almost entirely cleared out, through a mix of firings and resignations. Musk has also dissolved Twitter’s former board of directors. At the same time, Musk is also running several other companies, including as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX. Musk immediately fired four of Twitter’s top executives — CEO Parag Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal, General Counsel Sean Edgett and Policy Head Vijaya Gadde. It’s unclear whether VP of Operations Lindsey Iannucci, the other two members of Twitter’s top leadership team, will remain with the company.

☆ Elon Musk enlists more than 50 Tesla workers, 2 Boring Company staff, and one Neuralink employee to work at Twitter post-takeover, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk has authorized Tesla, Boring Company, and Neuralink staff to work at Twitter, per CNBC. Some Tesla directors were also enlisted to work at Twitter, CNBC reported, citing documents. More than 50 employees at Tesla have been authorized to work at Twitter, according to internal documents seen by CNBC. As well as Tesla workers, the world's richest man has also enlisted two staff members from his tunnelling venture, The Boring Company, and one employee from his brain-chip business, Neuralink, CNBC reported, citing the documents. CNBC's report follows the firing of some top executives at Twitter, as well as CEO Parag Agrawal, hours after Musk took over the site.

☆ Some Twitter workers are calling Elon Musk's advisers 'Elon's goons,' a report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk has been outlining plans to overhaul Twitter, assisted by his inner circle. Some Twitter workers have been calling his advisers "Elon's goons," the New York Times reported. Musk's plans include overhauling Twitter's verification process and potentially rebooting Vine. Current and former Twitter workers have been sending each other private messages in the midst of mounting uncertainty at the company, with some staff calling Musk's advisors "Elon's goons," The New York Times reported. Many Twitter staff are concerned about their job security and are scrambling to complete tasks assigned by Musk's team so they can keep hold of their jobs.

☆ Elon Musk spent the weekend creating plans with his inner circle to lay off 25% of Twitter's staff, report says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Elon Musk plans to lay off around a quarter of Twitter's staff, The Washington Post reported. His team, led by Alex Spiro, and remaining Twitter senior execs spent the weekend crafting plans, per The Post. Musk's team also assigned some of Twitter's engineers projects to work on over the weekend. Insider reported that there was a sense among workers that some of their recent tasks were a test by Musk's team to see who works hard. A person familiar with the deal told The Post that Musk is more likely to lay off around half of Twitter's staff.

☆ Elon Musk has pulled more than 50 Tesla employees into his Twitter takeover
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesNew Twitter owner Elon Musk has pulled more than 50 of his trusted Tesla employees, mostly software engineers from the Autopilot team, into his Twitter takeover, CNBC has learned. At Twitter, Musk is counting on his lieutenants and loyalists to decide who and what to cut or keep at the social network. It is not immediately clear how Tesla employees are expected to split their schedules between the automaker and Twitter. Typically, when Tesla employees work for other Elon Musk ventures, usually SpaceX or the Boring Company, they can get paid by the other venture as a consultant. Employees say Musk wants that work done by the first week of November.

☆ Twitter's Hunger Games: Elon Musk oversees a weekend of coding sprints, stack ranking, and boot-licking as some employees fight to keep their jobs.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Several Musk allies have been added to a company directory, with Musk being named CEO internally. Elon Musk put Twitter employees to the test this weekend to see who is capable, and willing, of surviving under his new reign. Musk has a 16 year old son, Saxon James Musk, whom he frequently mentions on Twitter, although the Twitter workers have yet to see any confirmation that James Musk is of any relation to their new owner. "This is it," one of the people familiar said, describing the feeling at the company under Musk. Many engineers were tasked over the weekend with "sprints," set periods of time for coding work to be done.

☆ I binge-listened to tech podcasts for a week, and what I learned about Silicon Valley is kind of scary
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-04 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

2: The hosts don't know what they don't knowThe problem is, VC podcasts don't stick to the core issues of venture capital. 3: The hosts want us to believe what they don't knowThere's a shocking amount of this kind of drivel on the tech podcasts. This is what a good tech podcast should do: Use access to the best and most successful investors and innovators to illuminate the way Silicon Valley works. But that's not what matters in the world of tech podcasts. But after 40 hours of listening to tech podcasts, I feel kind of bad about it.

☆ It's official — Jack Dorsey will be deposed on Tuesday as part of Elon Musk's $44 billion Twitter court battle
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Jack Dorsey will be questioned under oath on Tuesday regarding Elon Musk's legal battle with Twitter. Musk's legal team subpoenaed the Twitter cofounder as a part of a slew of legal requests in August. Dorsey resigned as Twitter's CEO last year and has supported Musk's Twitter purchase. Musk's legal team originally subpoenaed former Dorsey in August. In August, Musk's legal team submitted several legal filings, including subpoenas to two former Twitter employees and several companies, including Discord.

☆ LinkedIn founder and Elon Musk's longtime friend said he worried when he heard about the billionaire's decision to buy Twitter: 'It was like "Oh my god, another huge problem"'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-17 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Reid Hoffman said he was initially concerned when he learned of Elon Musk's decision to buy Twitter. Other members of Musk's social circle told Axios they warned him against buying Twitter. He's already dealing with a large number,'" Hoffman told Axios in a podcast interview, referencing Musk's offer to buy Twitter on April 14. Hoffman told Axios he never doubts Musk for long — even when it came to his initial decision to purchase Twitter. Whether Musk will be forced to buy Twitter has yet to be decided.

☆ Twitter says an Elon Musk ally is trying to 'flip Twitter the bird' and dodge legal requests over his involvement in the $44 billion deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-30 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Twitter is arguing that Sacks and his companies could have key details on Elon Musk's decision to back out of his purchase. Twitter said the motion to quash the subpoenas "serves no apparent purpose beyond satisfying Sacks' desire to flip Twitter the bird." 'Off-the-cuff'In the podcast Twitter references, Sacks appears to mock the social media company's legal team. Twitter's initial subpoena referenced several of Sack's tweets, including one in which he provides a checklist for the next CEO of Twitter. Most recently, Musk's legal team is attempting to amend its initial counterclaims against Twitter's lawsuit.

Search resuls for: "David Sack"

19 mentions found