[frustratedmngr]

The startup actually used two different stacks / programming languages. They would generally just port my micro-services from one stack to the other and brag about the fact that they were faster than me in writing them, which, in my opinion, really isn't a fair comparison given that porting something is a lot easier than writing from scratch (since you don't have to make decisions about architecture, etc).

On your second question, I have no idea why this executive doesn't like me. I wrote a comment on another thread on my first negative interaction with him and someone suggested that my presence somehow messes up with plans he originally had. However, I can't really think of anything.

[beatgammit]

Have you tried talking to the exec? Take him out to lunch or something and get to know him. Find out his professional interests, get a feel for his motivations, and understand his relationship to the CEO.

Once you understand him, you can make a gameplan. Since you said the exec is close with the CEO, he's probably a good friend to have, and patching things up with him can really improve how you look to the CEO.

Business is about people, and technical accomplishment only goes so far. Figure out how to make the right people happy and you'll go far.