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Common Thread Collective

Is this your company?

An Employee Owned Company, Not an Employee Led Company - Designer Common Thread Collective Employee Review

2.0
27 Jul 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Major pro: the people who work here are very cool. It’s very easy to make friends and grab a virtual coffee with just about anyone. Some of the best and most talented designers that I’ve ever worked with. The ESOP process seemed very promising.

Cons

The CEO. He may be super kind in person. I’ll never know. Unfortunately he comes off super privileged and cannot lead others well, let alone communicate in a way that shows humility or self awareness. Folks are afraid to say “no” to him. Financial decisions do not make sense. There is so much cult-like behavior and toxic positivity at this company. The creative department is undervalued and is scapegoated for mistakes that leadership (including the CEO) caused. Be careful of what you say about work in TMYD. You do not have to disclose your personal trauma on Dream Day. Extreme vulnerability and self disclosure is what cults do to initiate vulnerable people.

Explore other reviews about Common Thread Collective

5.0
7 Jan 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Lots of learnings, working with great people and clients

Cons

Hard work, as expected in agency life

1.0
19 Jul 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You will learn quick what to avoid in future companies and employees. Every role after will be a breath of fresh air.

Cons

CTC is a chaotic, ego-driven mess, churning and burning employees and clients. CEO Taylor Holiday is a wannabe Twitter influencer playing entrepreneur, surrounded by an inner-circle of unqualified buddies. Strategy changes constantly, positive reviews are fabricated, departments are dissolved on a whim, and layoffs are routine. CTC demands unrealistic output from overworked employees, all while preaching a fake culture of “transparency” and “work-life balance.” Transparency means hyped-up financial updates paired with weird parties and alcohol, followed immediately by entire department layoffs. Work-life balance means 60 hour work weeks with a level of micromanagement I haven’t seen before or since. Not convinced yet? Welcome to leadership meetings where no one has a plan and everyone is too afraid to say the truth. Staying close to the in-crowd matters more than results or performance because it might just keep you your job. I’ll never forget CTC’s empty promises about development and achieving dreams, all while exploiting, discarding, and abusing everyone in sight. If you value your career, mental health, or basic respect, stay far away.

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