A Sydney-based tech entrepreneur has ignited a firestorm of criticism after publicly calling for a radical overhaul of Australia's work culture, praising American firms where employees work past 11pm.
The Controversial Social Media Post
Anh Dao, the co-founder of the boutique web design firm Lyra, voiced his controversial views from San Francisco in November. Lyra counts major clients like Microsoft and Griffith University among its portfolio, and was previously used by Canva.
Mr Dao declared on social media that he needed a 'wake-up call' from the Australian mindset. 'Australia's work culture needs a serious change,' he stated. 'The culture here runs till late… I saw people still in the office at 11:30pm, calls happening well after 5pm… and my brain was overflowing with ideas.'
He contrasted this with what he termed the 'comfort-first' culture in Australia, arguing it stifles ambition. 'We simply cannot compete on ambition, pace, or outcomes if comfort becomes the priority,' Mr Dao claimed, also criticising the 'tall poppy syndrome' for cutting down ambition.
Backlash and Salary Concerns
The entrepreneur announced that Lyra would fully adopt this fast-paced ethos by year's end, aiming to transform its Barangaroo office into the 'tech central of Australia'. His rallying cry, 'Founders, engineers, growth, designers, investors in Australia, lock the f*** in,' was met with immediate backlash online.
Many social media users accused him of being out of touch. One quipped sarcastically, 'I love being a corporate slave working to increase profits for the shareholders.' A significant point of contention was the vast salary disparity between Silicon Valley and Australia.
Critics directly questioned whether Lyra was prepared to match US-level compensation. One asked, 'When you were in San Francisco... what salaries were those content employees... earning? How do their salaries compare to those of employees at Lyra?' Another commented, 'I'd be smiling too if I was earning $500k USD a year... Are you offering 4x market rate?'
The Silicon Valley Precedent and Founder's Defence
San Francisco's tech hub is notorious for its demanding culture, with some companies even embracing the gruelling '996' regime—working from 9am to 9pm, six days a week—a practice recently reported on by The Washington Post.
This reality was highlighted by a former Silicon Valley worker who commented on Mr Dao's post: 'Yeah nah. I left SF burnt out by that 'always on' unsustainable work culture.' Another pleaded, 'Please don't bring it to Sydney - and if you do, then be ready to pay a quarter million dollars.'
When confronted with the criticism, Mr Dao told the Daily Mail his comments were aimed at 'founders and builders', not all Australian workers. He clarified that his point was about 'ambition and what it takes to close the gap' between Australia and global tech leaders, not specifically about working until 11:30pm.
He addressed the online chatter, stating, 'It’s okay. Conversations like this usually come from people who care about the same ecosystem we do.' Mr Dao concluded by acknowledging that drive looks different for everyone, saying, 'Some want balance, some want to push limits. Both belong here.'
