On LinkedIn, a seemingly routine connection request turned into a public confrontation between Carlos Pantoja, CEO of Optima Solutions, and Ali Schwanke, founder of Simple Strat. Pantoja sent a confronting message to Schwanke, warning her against poaching his employees, ending it with a sarcastic ‘With much love.’ Schwanke exposed the exchange by posting a screenshot on LinkedIn, which quickly spread across the platform. In her post, Schwanke explained that she felt threatened and did not believe the privacy of those involved merited protecting. The post garnered over two million views and sparked discussions about appropriate conduct in professional networking settings. Commenters questioned the hostility and aggression displayed in Pantoja’s message, with one user remarking, ‘I could understand if you personally knew each other, and in which case I’d be like, ‘Dude, why are you trying to poach my people?’ But the aggression is something.’ Schwanke responded, stating that she had never had any prior contact with Pantoja or his company. Another commenter wittily retorted, ‘Dear Carlos, People don’t leave bad jobs. They leave bad leadership. This message is a perfect example of why you’re losing employees. Feel free to look in the mirror and do some self-reflection. Have an amazing day! Ali.’ The incident highlights the importance of maintaining professional etiquette and the potential consequences of hostile behavior in professional settings.
LinkedIn CEO’s Confrontational Message Sparks Controversy
