From the Broadcom side of things, how are you all perceiving the upcoming acquisition? Do you see it as a good or a bad thing?
For our customers and us, the very idea of Hock acquiring us has caused massive upheaval, and damage to our brand, and morale.
Employees are scared, because we are all assuming we'll be laid off, even if we've received one of the rare retention RSU packages. Partners are scared Hock will jeopardize the existing business and practices, and ruin support. Customers are also scared support will all but disappear if they aren't willing to spend millions of dollars. The fear is palpable and everywhere.
We can't understand why Hock would want to pay 61 billion for a company that was already losing customers to app modernization, and all he's done is accelerate that. By the time he takes over VMware, a lot of our most talented people will be gone, customers will already be planning and/or accelerating their exit strategy. Partners will be rethinking their business models.
His reputation is so bad, he's destroyed billions of dollars in VMware's value before laying a finger on the place. I've never seen anything like it. Productivity here is in the toilet, because everyone is looking for another job or just enjoying their last months of freedom.
Even with the people Hock keeps, VMware HATES working at the office. Once he forces us all back, you will see more depart. Maybe this is all part of his plan, but how do you grow a business, when you've already started hemorrhaging employees, and customers, before you've even taken over yet?