Leadership lacks integrity - Anonymous employee Flamboyan Employee Review

1.0
8 Feb 2022
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

If you are willing to agree with everything the executive office says and does, you'll have a pleasant workspace. In fact, the office is SO pretty, you should be happy to forgo a fair wage. The mission, if you ever get to actually work on it, is powerful. When leadership takes a break from meetings focused on internal politics and internal equity, the team has good work to do. Flamboyan continues to hire really amazing staff, so you can count on a good team, as you sit through days and days worth of pointless internal meetings.

Cons

Flamboyan's executive leadership lacks integrity. They gaslight staff and bring the hammer down on people who push back and speak the truth. You would struggle to find 2 employees who have left the organization and have anything good to say about leadership. The turnover and negative reputation with past staff is a major problem, no matter how the leadership tries to downplay it. In my opinion, Flamboyan is a tax shelter designed to keep rich people rich. Many decisions at the leadership level are financial, but leadership will never be transparent on that front. Leadership weighs the strength of Flamboyan's reputation on what they hear from elites in the funding community, and organizations who are seeking funding. Leadership views staff and partners who are dissatisfied as completely replaceable, and given the money Flamboyan can throw around, they are right to a degree. Someone will always be there to accept a cash infusion, but the past staff and partners who are disgusted keeps stacking up and it will catch up to Flamboyan eventually. The internal racial equity work at Flamboyan is problematic because the executive leadership team has set themselves up as judge and jury of others, while rarely admitting to their own substantial missteps. There is an obnoxious and pervasive "mother knows best" attitude from the executive office that they use to bully and silence managers. In the past you could only expect on-the-job professional development. Now people are barely allowed to do their jobs because internal retreats and subsequent "meetings after the meeting" are all the executive office really concentrates on. They do have people on staff who could help guide them out of their mess, but they don't consult people with level heads. It's hard to see so many strong staff leave Flamboyan disappointed and disillusioned.

Explore other reviews about Flamboyan

5.0
18 May 2023
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I came to Flamboyan after a soul-crushing job that demanded 60-80 hours/week with no overtime pay and no acknowledgment of my tireless efforts. I was exhausted, frustrated, and lacked self-confidence, and was unconvinced that I could find an employer that would let me do meaningful work while also having a life and time for my family. Thankfully, I was soon hired by Flamboyan and discovered that that place DID exist. After a few years with the organization, I consider the pros to be: - Work/life balance. My work days are full, but my after-work hours are respected. I appreciate the boundaries AND we do what we need to do when the work requires it. I find that working the occasional evening or night is manageable when your time is respected on the whole. - Meaningful work. There is a lot to do and we pursue our goals with passion. I appreciate that we're able to adjust course as needed, particularly when the education landscape has been ever-changing the last few years through COVID. You're encouraged to shift strategy when the work needs it. - Dedicated colleagues. Flamboyan hires incredible people who are committed to the mission and do what needs to be done for students and families. I feel lucky to be surrounded by smart people who are eager to collaborate toward strong outcomes. If you prefer to work in a silo, Flamboyan may not be a good fit for you. - Accessible leadership. Getting time with senior leaders at my previous employers was a whole production and hard to come by. At Flamboyan, the "door-open" policy is real, particularly if you have concerns or issues you'd like to raise. - Good benefits. Flamboyan has solid vacation and leave policies, including family leave, and the health insurance has been good for my family (we actually chose Flamboyan's insurance over my spouse's option). I also appreciate the periodic paid Wellness Days and WFH weeks, as well as flexibility when I've needed it. -Opportunity to try stuff, learn, and adjust. I've learned so much in my time at Flamboyan because of our willingness to take risks in the work, and it's helped me grow as a professional. All staff are encouraged to bring ideas -- big ideas! -- to the table, and are given the autonomy to figure out how to get there. If you have trouble navigating through ambiguity, Flamboyan may not be a good fit for you. - Committed to DEI work. Flamboyan has not shied away from its DEI journey over the last several years, and strives to be an anti-racist organization. Again, this is something I never would have gotten elsewhere, and I've been grateful for the work as difficult as it can be. If you prefer to point out the window instead of look in the mirror, Flamboyan may not be a good fit for you. - Beautiful workspace. Flamboyan takes great pride in creating a welcoming space for employees and visitors, including a recent redecoration after coming back from COVID. It's a historic building so there are some limitations on what's possible but on the whole, I enjoy our office space. Its location near Dupont Circle is easily metro accessible and close to lots of dining options.

Cons

- Opportunities for advancement. Because Flamboyan is a small organization, there aren't abundant opportunities for advancement unless someone leaves and/or a new role is created. However, there are opportunities for in-role promotions that include increased pay as well as additional responsibilities and chances to grow. It's not unusual to see folks spend a few years at Flamboyan before moving onto an opportunity elsewhere at a higher level. I've found leadership to be quite transparent about this in their hiring guides. - Salary. I'd actually say the pay is competitive, but in comparison to some of the school districts or other ed-focused employers in the area, it's going to feel lower. To me, the slightly lower salary was worth the tradeoff for a great work-life balance, in addition to the benefits. - WFH days. While the 4 days in office mostly works for me, I'd love to see Flamboyan transition to a 3 days in office/2 days at home schedule. We can often over-meeting ourselves, and adding another WFH day could help protect our work time.

1
2.0
5 Mar 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Reasonable salary and benefits Good fit for entry-level employees Good coworkers

Cons

Frequent organizational changes and staff turnover Micromanagement Poor leadership No space for professional growth

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