**Nepotism in the Tech Industry? Microsoft Employee’s Viral Video Sparks Debate**
*By Akash Pandey | Sep 18, 2025, 06:23 PM*
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**What’s the Story?**
Ume Habiba, a software engineer at Microsoft, has brought attention to the issue of nepotism in Silicon Valley. In a viral Instagram video, she claimed that many people secure positions in top tech companies not based on merit, but through family connections.
“Corporate nepotism is a thing, especially in Silicon Valley,” Habiba stated in the clip. She further emphasized that some individuals are hired despite lacking the necessary technical skills simply because “their parents got them there.”
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**Industry Critique: Habiba’s Claims About Nepotism in Tech**
While nepotism is often linked to the entertainment industry, Habiba highlighted that it is equally prevalent in big tech firms. According to her, many managing directors in Silicon Valley engage in favor trading to secure jobs or internships for their children. A phrase she quoted often heard is: “I’ll hire your kid if you hire mine.”
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**Hiring Loopholes: Nepotism Leading to Unqualified Hires**
Habiba also alleged that children from the Bay Area can land jobs at top companies without undergoing the usual hiring procedures. Even when interviews are conducted, she noted, they tend to be brief and lack technical rigor.
Concluding her video, she offered a pragmatic perspective: there’s “no point crying about it” and advised others to “play the cards they have been dealt.”
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**Public Response: Mixed Reactions to the Video**
The video sparked a wide range of reactions online. Some users agreed with Habiba’s observations, while others minimized the issue.
One user commented, “They say that the zip code you grow up in dictates your life. Makes sense.” Another wrote, “Executives make up 1-2% of any company. Their kids may occupy a single spot on a team of 100+. I’m not stressed about one nepo kid.”
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**Ongoing Discourse: Debate Over Nepotism Continues**
The discussion surrounding nepotism in the tech sector shows no sign of fading. Some defended the merit-based hiring system, whereas others shared personal experiences of unqualified individuals gaining opportunities.
“I know for a fact I worked with many who were not skilled enough to hold positions. Yet they had opportunities,” one user said. Another added, “It will happen everywhere, even you would do that. So just accept it.”
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As the debate unfolds, the issue of nepotism in tech remains a controversial topic, reflecting broader concerns about equality and fairness in the industry.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/microsoft-engineer-slams-silicon-valley-nepotism/story