AKQA Reviews

Pros

Improved my presentation skills, opened my mind about the creative work

Pros

Nice People in data team

Pros

People who work here are talented and ambitious, everything you get involved with will be beautifully crafted and considered

Advice to Management

Treat the amazing people who make this business what it is as humans, not numbers in a spreadsheet

Pros

Knew that no matter the client of brief, the team would nail it and have the courage to be bolder and better than anyone else. The team was like family and the leadership cared. Didn’t want to be anywhere else. But that changed and changed fast.

Advice to Management

Bring in the right people to go back to focusing on the people and the work. Ajaz was clear that great people that produce great work takes care of everything else. At the time I felt it simplistic but later found it a powerful truth. I’m not going to make this about individuals but it’s clear which stars still shine and which have faded across the leadership. Change and regain and surpass the mojo of old. I’m still a believer. I still love the time I spent there and want it to be a winner once again.

Pros

There are still some good people here, but the smart ones fled long ago. At one time there was a commitment to innovation and excellence. Big name clients look good on your resume, but chances are you will do little more than repetitious busywork for them. Most likely you will be recycling the umpteenth iteration of the same work somebody else did years ago for a different client.

Advice to Management

Let some new blood rise up the ranks before the aging incestuous old guard drains the last bit of life from what was once a vibrant creative force.

Pros

There are still some amazing people at AKQA. The passion for the work is real, as is the commitment to quality. Lovely offices, good perks like decent coffee, fruit, exercise room, inspiring talks from outside speakers.

Advice to Management

Work out what the company stands for, at an actionable, concrete level.

Pros

Humble, incredibly talented and driven people, inspiring work, beautiful office, travel opportunities, great investment in development of employees, long list of benefits.

Advice to Management

Keep up the good work

Pros

The clients were amazing. The work coming out of AKQA was exceptional. The work that I was lucky enough to be involved with was inspiring.

Advice to Management

Your senior employees are there to mentor your juniors. In my experience at AQKA, this was a massive failure. I am no longer there because I was let down by a senior.

Pros

AKQA is globally renowned for delivering excellence to clients and their end-users. This drive for quality is shared amongst the highly talented team at AKQA, and is contagious to all that encounter it.

Talent is fostered through a well-crafted learning and development programme, which has gathered great momentum in recent years with the launch of an internal learning platform to encourage cross-office and cross-functional collaboration. Alongside this the agency offers 'AKQA Insight', a monthly keynote and Q&A with an innovator in their respective field.

The management team are highly approachable, and encourage input from all, so that the best possible output can be delivered. Agency news is communicated through monthly company updates, as well as a bi-annual All Company Meeting.

Being a part of the WPP network has strengthened and extended AKQA’s capabilities, and allowed for close collaboration with specialist agencies and organisations.

From a social perspective, AKQA offer monthly breakfasts and drinks to enable employees to meet colleagues on other teams and functions. Alongside this is a range of great benefits including Nike-led fitness classes in the on-site gym, generous holiday allowance and outstanding office spaces.

Advice to Management

Continue to invest in knowledge, both in the learning and development of your people, and being on the cusp of emerging technologies.

Pros

Without doubt the people make AKQA. With proactive, can-do attitudes they produce some of the best work in the business. Throughout my time at the company I didn't come across anyone who I felt was bad at their job.

There are many perks to working at AKQA. My work-life balance was very good and there are a number of initiatives to encourage workers both inside and out of the office. The vast majority of my colleagues pursued interesting passions alongside AKQA, which were encouraged internally.

Senior management were visible and approachable. Having started in an entry level role this was important. The collaborative nature of the agency led me to some really exciting briefs. The client list is certainly impressive.

FIFA in the office isn't bad either!

Advice to Management

Be proactive in promoting employees, rather than waiting for them to voice their wishes.

Don't think of the different departments as separate entities.