Work & CareersManagementWorkplaceOpinionIt may not pay to kiss up and kick down in the workplaceTime and again I hear friends and relatives in all types of industries despairing of moderately talented bootlickers who rise remorselessly through the ranks while bullying juniors with abandon. Pilita ClarkColumnistFour years ago, Ryan Breslow was on the cover of Forbes magazine after his $US11 billion fintech start-up, Bolt Financial, made him one of the world’s youngest billionaires.Bolt’s value has since crashed and the 30-something Breslow is now shedding staff with a vigour that is bracing even for Silicon Valley.Financial TimesSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Executive EducationPowered byLatest In ManagementFetching latest articlesMost Viewed In Work and careers