Pros
Several knowledgeable strategists who were strong collaborators and made the workload more manageable and fun. There were once some enjoyable clients to work with, though many have since moved on. Very little oversight or management, to a fault.
Cons
No HR: Without a dedicated HR role, some of the benefits discussed during the hiring process will never come to fruition. Additionally, there were many uncomfortable and unprofessional situations that would have been helpful to have HR to mediate. Inexperienced leadership: Some individuals are placed in leadership positions without prior experience leading teams or directing strategy for complex, high-profile clients. Over-reliance on AI: AI is frequently positioned as a solution to nearly every problem within the organization. While AI can be a powerful tool, the current approach often prioritizes AI-generated ideas or workflows without any oversight. This has contributed to questionable creative outputs (with several clients requesting that we stop using AI for creative development) and operational decisions that have not always been well received by clients. In multiple instances, AI-driven structural changes were made to accounts, which left clients feeling frustrated. Leadership did little to hear these concerns and address them. Limited career growth: Advancement opportunities are limited, and employees often remain in the roles they were initially hired for without clear pathways for raises or promotions.