Pros
- Legacy brand dedicated to celebrating and honoring Black women, and continues to stay true to that mission. - Incredibly talented team—smart, creative, hardworking, and fun to work with. - Strong work elevating the brand through content, photography, fashion, and red-carpet coverage. - Black Women in Hollywood remains a standout platform. - Essence Festival of Culture continues to grow and evolve.
Cons
- Lack of clear strategy; "building as we go" often felt like a substitute for planning. - Understaffed teams and limited investment in systems and operations led to employees wearing multiple hats. - Deliverables and client service often suffered due to resource constraints, not effort. - Toxic leadership culture. - Frequent turnover and layoffs created instability.