Pros
I enjoyed the clients and most of the people I worked with.
Cons
I spent almost 20 years with WPP, primarily in managerial and director roles, with my last three years at VML. During my time at VML, I encountered an upper management that was overly top-heavy and disconnected from the reality on the ground. Their main concerns seemed to be maintaining the facade of VML and planning their luxurious stays at Cannes. After dedicating the majority of my career to WPP, I was blindsided by a layoff. I was informed by someone I barely knew and given no substantial explanation, just a generic response, "nothing to do with your performance". The person who should have informed me avoided the responsibility and instead had someone I had no relationship with deliver the news. Despite my nearly two decades of service, I received the same severance package—10 weeks and no healthcare—as those with less than five years of tenure. Having been on the other side of these situations, I know how difficult it is to inform someone they've lost their job. It's one of the toughest responsibilities, and there's a right way and a wrong way to handle it. It's crucial to be responsible, accountable, compassionate, and to strive to be better. There is no loyalty anymore. Look out for yourself, because to them, you are simply a number, primarily a salary number.