Running on empty, recycled hype - Anonymous employee Joan Creative Employee Review

1.0
6 July 2019
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

They usually make payroll and they have snacks.

Cons

Manic CEO and CCO with little leadership or business experience. Why did they start an agency? The CEO constantly touts her time at Refinery29, where she worked less than a year, and the CCO likes to highlight a project from 2013. They have little direction and or integrity, have had three rounds of layoffs in four years of existence, and seem to think a flashy office and snacks makes them a legit startup. People have left jobs at good agencies to come here—don't make that mistake!

Explore other reviews about Joan Creative

5.0
23 Apr 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

They're awesome, love everyone there

Cons

Sometimes hire difficult people, but mostly good eggs

2.0
14 Nov 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

JOAN works with culturally relevant, high-visibility brands, which provides exposure to strong creative output and interesting campaigns. Many of the team members—across creative, production, and strategy—are genuinely talented, collaborative, and committed to producing great work. The agency environment is fast-paced and offers opportunities to learn quickly and adapt across multiple workstreams. As a whole, the company positions itself around creativity, storytelling, and culture, which can be energizing for people who are passionate about those areas.

Cons

Leadership structure and management processes are inconsistent. Workload distribution can be uneven, with some employees absorbing responsibilities outside of their scope due to gaps in communication or team bandwidth. Feedback and performance evaluation processes lack transparency. Cross-team alignment—especially with global partners—often lacked structure, which slowed down progress and created avoidable confusion. I felt the absence of intentional support systems, leadership practices, and opportunities for growth.

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