Why Some Companies Never Transform

Some companies never transform — not because they lack talent, budget, or ambition, but because their leadership refuses to evolve. In this piercing and deeply revealing exploration of organizational psychology, Why Some Companies Never Transform exposes the hidden patterns that keep businesses stuck, stagnant, and incapable of meaningful change. Through a single interview experience that becomes a catalyst for profound insight, Werner Otto uncover the real forces that derail transformation: founder ego, leadership insecurity, misaligned expectations, and the deep-rooted fear of expertise that challenges the status quo. This is not a book about frameworks or corporate buzzwords — it is an honest, unfiltered look at why transformation fails long before any strategy is even launched. Inside you'll discover: • Why leaders claim to want transformation yet resist the discomfort it brings • How ego and defensiveness silently sabotage engineering and organizational progress • Why companies hire experts but then refuse to trust them • How psychological blind spots at the top cascade into systemic dysfunction • What experienced leaders must pay attention to in interviews and executive interactions • How organizations unintentionally create the very stagnation they fear Written with clarity, depth, and a rare blend of personal experience and organizational insight, this book is a wake-up call for founders, executives, engineering leaders, and anyone navigating the complex social dynamics of modern companies. If you've ever wondered why transformation seems impossible in certain organizations, this book reveals the answer — and the psychology behind it. A crucial moment of discovery becomes a timeless lesson on leadership, culture, and the limits companies impose on themselves.