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Essence Communications

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Total Nightmare - Marketing Essence Communications Employee Review

1.0
29 Sept 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Exciting to be apart of one of the most iconic Black media brands.

Cons

Essence Communications Inc. is a complete joke, run by the most incompetent “leaders” only looking out for their own good and pockets. At the beginning of the year, the company had mass layoffs making the working environment stressful with very few resources. Then there was the scandal of take back ESSENCE that happened this summer and the “internal investigation” that was really only a PR cover-up. Fast forward to the current furloughs. Totally irresponsible. We worked our butts off during the virtual Essence Fest while leadership knew this was coming. Early measures could have saved people’s jobs and allowed employees to receive pandemic assistance. This magazine is going to fold and it is extremely sad to see. What once was a dream job turned into a nightmare. Best of luck to the 5 people who remain on staff.

Explore other reviews about Essence Communications

5.0
29 Aug 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Collaborative and supportive teams across the board, this in result cultivates great work culture. - Definitely will not be a good fit for someone who's not self motivated and just wants a paper-pusher job. Everyone here works hard, but in turn the company and managers tries their best to promote work-life balance (honoring summer fridays, employee appreciation days..etc..). - I feel like my wins are celebrated here, and mistakes are not condemned but treated as learning opportunities.

Cons

Just like any other companies, there will always be things that can improve as the company works through pain points to make processes more efficient.

1
2.0
12 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Legacy brand dedicated to celebrating and honoring Black women, and continues to stay true to that mission. - Incredibly talented team—smart, creative, hardworking, and fun to work with. - Strong work elevating the brand through content, photography, fashion, and red-carpet coverage. - Black Women in Hollywood remains a standout platform. - Essence Festival of Culture continues to grow and evolve.

Cons

- Lack of clear strategy; "building as we go" often felt like a substitute for planning. - Understaffed teams and limited investment in systems and operations led to employees wearing multiple hats. - Deliverables and client service often suffered due to resource constraints, not effort. - Toxic leadership culture. - Frequent turnover and layoffs created instability.

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