Pros
I've worked in many other companies before and experienced lots of different cultures, so like to think I have a reasonable and fair perspective here. I can confidently say: if you are humble, smart, a critical thinker, a team player, open-minded, growth-oriented, and positive -- you will love Zola. The culture at Zola expects excellence, and if that is exciting to you? Welcome aboard. You will be given growth opportunities, creative license, exposure, and product ownership suited to your aspirations. But paired with that commitment to excellence is an appreciation for work-life balance; many of the leadership team and company are parents with families, and there is a real empathy bestowed on those of us who are juggling life outside of work. The people here are dynamic, bright, and really f-ing good at their jobs. The business is at one of the most dynamic and fast-growing phases ever in its history, and you really feel the momentum across every team and business unit. The co-CEOs and management team have painstakingly built this culture over the past decade, and you really feel it from day one. If this is the place for you, it is REALLY the place for you. Many Zola employees stay for 5+ years. I joined the team this year, and in my immediate team of 12, I was the newest employee: the next newest employee had been here for 5 years. That should tell you something.
Cons
Remember when I said up there in the "Pros" section the qualities that make you a shoo-in to love Zola? If you are not ALL of those things, I will be very honest: you will struggle. And it is hard to find people who are all of those things, or have the EQ to realize what those things mean at Zola, where the bar is set higher than most companies. That is the honest truth. This is not a place for everyone. It's not a place to coast. It's not a place to expect your work to be taken at face value. It's not a place to phone it in. It's not a place that will tolerate assumptions of bad intent. It's not a place for putting your own ego before the needs of the team. I'm listing these as "cons" but they're not "cons" to the people who will succeed here. They're just realities.