Former Tesla Officials Regret Not Standing Up to Elon Musk
By Jonathan Landay, Rachael Levy
(Reuters) – Former Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) officials who oversaw the automaker’s diversity, equity, and inclusion office express regret for not opposing billionaire CEO Elon Musk. They now urge U.S. federal employees to resist Musk’s extensive spending and personnel cuts.
Kristen Kavanaugh and Mike Randolph, in a Reuters interview, shared that their experiences at Tesla led them to author a new book titled “Courage over Fear,” which they describe as a guide to navigating what they refer to as “fear-based leadership,” a characteristic they see not only in Musk’s company but increasingly in other U.S. corporations and government agencies.
Kavanaugh expressed her fear of Musk and the repercussions of speaking out against him, saying, “I felt like I had too much to lose to speak up, no matter how strongly I disagreed.” This realization motivated the former Tesla employees to write their book.
Musk’s management style has drawn criticism due to his swift approach and impatience with regulations, which allows for rapid technological advancements. Supporters argue that his leadership is necessary for progress, while detractors highlight a lack of empathy and respect.
The two ex-officials described Tesla’s chaotic culture, reflecting Musk’s drive for efficiency in government and corporate settings, including requests for concise emails to justify job roles. They suggested federal workers can advocate for themselves by sharing information in the public interest with journalists.
Tesla and Musk did not provide a comment when asked about these claims.
Musk acknowledges his intense management style, asserting that his endeavors in electric vehicles and space exploration are vital for the planet’s health and humanity’s future.
Kavanaugh, who led the DEI office without direct communication with Musk, shared an early experience that illustrated Musk’s initial willingness to engage, but he later made comments that offended staff, including a controversial tweet concerning a potential university name referencing women’s breasts, for which he never apologized. This incident left Kavanaugh wishing she had addressed these issues directly.
Identifying as Black, gay, and a Marine, Kavanaugh felt her identity intertwined with Tesla’s image. However, as her health and anxiety declined amid witnessing a decline in DEI commitment, she ultimately decided to leave the company, a decision she described as one of the hardest in her life.
In her book, she reflects on this challenging experience and its implications.
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