While I always approach interviews with a positive mindset, this particular experience fell short of expectations due to the following reasons: Lack of a warm-up or context setting: The interviewer (an Associate Director) jumped directly into questions without even a brief intro or rapport-building. At this level, a little contextual discussion is generally expected, especially for leadership roles. Vague and context-less questions: Many questions were open-ended and lacked clarity. I had to repeatedly mention that I would assume certain use cases to proceed with my answers, but the interviewer didn’t offer additional context or refine the queries. Resistance to modern engineering practices: I was surprised by the interviewer’s reaction when I explained how even freshers on my team are encouraged to use AI tools (like code assistants) with proper governance. Despite Kore.AI branding itself as an "AI-first" company, the response reflected a reluctance toward progressive engineering practices. Felt outdated in mindset: The overall tone and feedback loop reminded me of earlier experiences with Kore.AI—they seem to follow a dated approach to tech and team culture, which might explain some of the negative feedback shared by others in the community. ------------------ This is just one individual’s experience, and I respect the fact that hiring styles vary. However, I believe leadership-level interviews should be more conversational, context-driven, and mutually exploratory—especially when the role demands managing people, practices, and outcomes. I hope this helps anyone preparing for similar roles and gives a balanced perspective on what to expect.