Pros
Junior co-workers were trauma-bonded which facilitated friendship.
Cons
The company had a very low retention rate, especially among people of color. Most senior leadership were the longest-tenured employees and all white. Budget constraints were consistently raised across teams, often limiting morale. Folks were given false promises around formal reviews and growth opportunities. There is also a strong culture of favoritism that has impacted team dynamics and opportunities. Even though the company has been around for 10+ years, the environment still felt like a startup, with major operational changes, including binary-level tracking, rolled out without proper training, documentation, or clear processes. The CEO also maintains a culture of surveillance over teams, which often creates a lack of trust and unnecessary stress. In some cases, client missions and priorities directly contradicted each other, creating confusion and questioning morals.