Pros
I'm very happy working at Persona! One thing I really appreciate that I think is pretty unique is that design sits independently as its own organization at Persona. That independence creates a strong appreciation of craft and advocacy for thoughtful design at the company. Also leadership within the design org is the best. They have a "lead by serving" mentality. It's very low ego culture since our leaders model humility and service that sets the tone for the team culture. I feel invested in and I feel like the work I produce is often higher in quality as a result. The team culture is by far the biggest strengths. There is a strong culture of learning from one another, sharing work, exploring new tools, and continuously improving the craft – these are all things that I motivates me in a work environment which makes the role feel meaningful and energizing. Things move pretty fast at Persona so the impact feels really high here. The work we do often has a direct and visible influence on how things are implemented and I find that to be really rewarding on the brand side of things.
Cons
The pace can be fast, so there are times when priorities evolve quickly and you have to be comfortable adapting. As an IC it does require flexibility and strong communication. But I know my managers are aware of this and are actively working toward more thoughtful, sustainable, long-term planning which I deeply appreciate