A former Tesla employee, Saiman Shetty, shared insights about his experience working with Elon Musk at the electric vehicle giant. Shetty, who joined Tesla when it was still known as Tesla Motors in January 2016, described Musk as a no-nonsense leader who valued his employees.
In an Instagram post last month, Shetty reflected on his time at Tesla, emphasizing how he witnessed Musk transform the company into what it is today. He stated, “I joined Tesla when it was Tesla Motors and there were only a few people. Which meant we got the hands-on experience and front seat tickets to how Elon Musk turned his company into what it is today.” Shetty left Tesla in 2018 and is now the founder of Smart Green Card.
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Shetty characterized Musk’s management style as a “no bulls**t attitude,” which he deemed necessary for someone leading a massive company like Tesla. He noted, “Most of the time, and especially when you’re the boss, you need to cut through the nonsense and talk openly. It reduces any chances of miscommunication, secrets and disrespect.” Shetty pointed out that Musk’s emails were typically straightforward and direct. “He knew his time and his employees’s time was precious and he did not want to waste any of it with unnecessary distractions,” he added.
Contrary to Musk’s tough persona, Shetty highlighted that Musk made sure his employees felt appreciated. “During my time at Tesla, Elon did not make any one employee feel unappreciated. I still remember his mails used to come at odd hours in the night just expressing how thankful he was for the team and how he’s proud of each and every one of us,” Shetty shared.
Describing Musk as a “visionary,” Shetty remarked on his relentless ambition. “The guy worked nonstop and always strived for more. It’s this passion and ambition for the work they are doing which makes you a visionary. And Elon was definitely a visionary,” he wrote on Instagram, noting Musk’s commitment to sustainability.
In recent years, however, Musk’s public image has become more controversial, with some critics arguing that he has shifted from his original vision of innovation to supporting certain political agendas. This change in perception was echoed in the comments section of Shetty’s post, which reflected the evolving attitudes towards Musk following his acquisition of Twitter, subsequent layoffs, and the rebranding of the platform into X.
