Pros
Gaining clarity on the type of leader I aspire never to become and the work environment I will no longer tolerate.
Cons
Working at Next Model Management was one of the most emotionally damaging experiences of my career. The culture, driven by senior leadership, thrives on intimidation, favouritism, and belittling employees, creating a deeply hostile work environment that leaves you feeling powerless and unheard. Key examples: Public humiliation was common, with leadership openly shaming employees in front of the entire office. I was personally subjected to hurtful, inappropriate comments about my appearance that left me feeling degraded. A clear culture of favoritism exists, where certain individuals are shielded from accountability while others are scapegoated. For example, senior staff engaged in questionable spending on company resources for personal vacations while junior employees were chastised for necessary work-related expenses, like late-night taxis. Hard work and success are rarely, if ever, recognized. Instead, credit is regularly given to senior staff or those in leadership’s favor, leaving others overlooked and undervalued. Attempts to request reasonable accommodations, like swapping remote workdays, were met with hostile responses, including being called "a disgrace." This level of unprofessionalism and bullying was constant and pervasive, forcing me into a state of quiet quitting to preserve my mental health. The toxic environment is enabled by leadership’s unwillingness to hold themselves or others accountable. This lack of support fosters backstabbing, client stealing, and other damaging behaviors, all of which are ignored or even encouraged.