As someone (a Director) running for the exit... lack of control over: taking on new projects, staffing, infrastructure, meeting schedules, deadlines. Complete lack of ability to say "no" to our biggest client. Add in conflicting priorities from leadership, month long delays in compensation adjustment, lack of clarity around valuation status, and having to focus primarily on new and maintenance ETL work.

I got frustrated enough to where I almost quit on the spot a few weeks ago. Frustrated enough to b on the verge of tears and punches because I felt I'd wasted the past two years of my life. I worked to get myself transferred from my leadership role to, ostensibly, a more thought leadership type role which should happen in next few weeks.

However, if I don't see significant changes in January, February, and March then I'm leaving. Honestly, I'll probably leave anyway because I think I can grow my skillset, work on better problems, and set my future up better somewhere else.

What I hate about this situation is that I used to be the biggest supporter this company had. But years of this difficulty is enough.

I feel ya; this is almost exactly what I've felt this year. It's just incompetent management and leadership, and it's all too common. But it's incredibly demoralizing to be on the front lines of it. When you can't control anything, and are reduced to reacting on ever more tactical issues, it burns you out hard and fast. Indecisiveness is killer; better to pick something and do it, than waffle around forever spinning the wheels.

Keep at it. Find tour support or do it yourself.

Which universities are within an hours drive? Michigan, obviously.

People in the Metro Detroit area seem to conflate University of Michigan, Michigan State, and Wayne State as being equals / near equals.

The big state colleges are regarded as equals in the state, only in athletic terms. Everyone knows Michigan is the lone standout academically.