Don't Join - Chaos Culture - Product Manager Shutterstock Employee Review

The culture at Shutterstock has developed a toxic edge, with a clear shift in priorities away from customer-centric values toward revenue at all costs. There's a prevailing “f-the-customer” attitude where decisions prioritize quick revenue gains over genuine user satisfaction, often leading to practices that some would consider misleading or even exploitative. Product managers face significant pressure to implement initiatives they know aren't customer-friendly, only to be overruled by executives who lack understanding of the actual product landscape and have little interest in reasoned feedback. Any attempt to push back against these decisions is met with punitive measures, which create an environment where opposing viewpoints aren’t just dismissed but actively penalized. On top of this, random fire drills are regularly launched with no strategic purpose or follow-through, further eroding team morale and leaving employees frustrated with a sense of wasted effort and directionlessness. Ultimately, the internal climate feels demoralizing and counterproductive, making talented individuals feel they have little choice but to consider leaving. compensation is given in stocks which become half in 2 months.