Pros
I worked at this company from 2013-2019, long enough to see it go from great to sad. The best parts were always the people; Focus Lab hired well and—for a long time—encouraged growth in those very people. As those young professionals matured and honed their skills, the processes they put in place are among the best in the business. The people are good hearted and unequivocally passionate about what they do. I want to say more kind things about this company; I wish I could. It started with a great dream and it was a beautiful family. But the culture and the esteem has eroded. Many of these effusive reviews are left by newcomers or are from an earlier era.
Cons
Hubris is a fatal flaw of companies that experience early success. I felt compelled to drink the kool-aid and become a yes-man for a highly flawed leadership with egos more grandiose than their track record deserves. (Few held real jobs before leading the agency, and their initial success was largely predicated on early entry into the Dribbble digital platform.) By the time I left (I can't speak to anything after April 2019), many veteran team members had departed or been marginalized, leaving a beleaguered, under-supported crew working to provide the equivalent value to clients. Team members were sold to clients as "senior" level but really they'd been shifted into something they were new to, simply to cover demand. Showmanship and charisma were more rewarded than expertise, ability, or tenure. I experienced manipulation and intimidation, and witnessed bullying by certain individuals in roles of management, and psychological wellbeing was questioned of those like me who voiced complaints. And while the overall work-life balance could have been considered pretty good, that was not true for the handful of people who shouldered the work of a company that was struggling to keep afloat it's outmoded UX/UI process.
