The people I dealt with were professional and genuinely engaged throughout — HR, hiring manager, and VP were all good to speak with. No complaints there. But the process itself is worth describing clearly for anyone considering applying. Three rounds, including a strategy deck assignment presented to the hiring manager and VP. After that presentation I received an email with salary and start date, which I took as an offer in good faith. I submitted personal information, including ID and address. Then a second assignment arrived. I completed it. A week passed. Then came a call: the CRO had reviewed the role and now wanted someone more senior. The role was effectively gone. I wasn’t even given a chance to reapply. I’m not questioning anyone’s intentions. Organizational dynamics are messy and real. But there’s a basic standard I’d apply to any working relationship: don’t exchange salary figures, start dates, and personal information with someone unless you’re prepared to stand behind it. It’s the “how you treat waitstaff” problem. Applicants invest real time and real effort, especially when asked to complete strategy assignments. That investment deserves the same respect you’d give a paying customer. Good people. The process needs significant work.