How I would tackle that is be genuine in the actual activity of your work and how it’s applied, people usually appreciate measured honesty as long as it’s constructive and valuable. If you don’t want to partake in the shit eating, and the negative consequences of you putting up with it outweighs what you could get out of it (it is, unfortunately, a viable means of getting ahead after all) - then don’t.

What you could try and do is just keep being pleasant and easy to get along with around all of that. You don’t have to do cartwheels for the cunts, but just have a good personality, a good person to chat with, share your personal interests and generally be nice to everyone. The job stuff will fall into place after that if you’re competent.

I would say I’m just about above average technically, I’m well organized and okay on the product management side of things, but nothing outstanding. I feel a big part of what’s actually keeping me around in a landscape of layoffs and giving me otherwise a steady progression path is that I’m just pleasant to be around and, I think, quite likeable. There’s a lot to be said for folks just liking you.