Pros
The office space and tangible perks are initially attractive, and the agency provides access to a variety of resources.
Cons
In hindsight, I wish I had listened to industry insiders who warned me about this agency’s reputation regarding how they treat their people. Within the broader industry, the agency's internal culture and management style are widely viewed as a joke, and the reality of working here unfortunately validates that external perception. The flexibility promised during the interview process does not align with reality. Late nights (often until 11 PM) are expected immediately upon starting, and there is a pervasive culture of working through personal days due to job security concerns. The onboarding process is disorganized. New hires are given conflicting information and expected to master complex client histories after a single briefing. New team members are frequently held accountable for client issues that predated their arrival. There is a rigid expectation to conform to a specific company mold. If you do not immediately fit into this highly specific culture, you are quickly isolated and managed out. Senior leadership’s communication style is disheartening and not supportive. There is also a culture of throwing people under the bus that does not build team growth but rather an environment of toxicity that is evident throughout the agency due to job security concerns as both the founder and managing partner are unhinged and will let you go at the drop of a dime. There is a noticeable shift in temperament once the honeymoon phase of hiring ends. Certain leaders use highly manipulative and calculating language to mask a fundamental lack of industry knowledge and actual expertise. Leaders will explicitly ask you to take ownership and lead projects, only to completely bulldoze your decisions and insult your intelligence if your style doesn't mirror theirs exactly. It feels like an intentional effort to dim your light and force you into a mold that isn't authentic. Performance feedback mechanisms feel like platforms for personal criticism and bullying rather than professional growth. There is a severe lack of empathy regarding personal time, sick time or anything having to do with not working. The agency also lacks selectivity in its partnerships, often taking on random brands that do not align with a high-standard agency roster, leading to uninspired work.