Kicking something when it is down should never feel good, and this doesn't. It's just so disappointing to watch a company with real potential fall this hard. BrandExtract has the resources and connections to do great work for major clients, but unnecessary drama from leadership undermines everything.
At this creative marketing firm, the creatives, the people who actually concept and produce the work, matter least. They're always first to go when things get rough. Yes, I know this sounds like an employee scorned, but this is a big city with a small creative hub, and the word has been out for a long time.
I'd only recommend this place to young professionals gaining experience while knowing it's not your forever home. Seasoned creatives should look elsewhere. No matter what's promised, you won't get the space to thrive. You become a pawn in exhausting, never-ending drama, and whatever expertise you bring is second-guessed or pushed under the rug.
Lightning Round:
• Unclear business development strategy
• Emotional, unproductive leadership—two of them
• Zero loyalty. Long-term employees laid off with no severance, no healthcare bridge, even founding team members. That's truly dark and very important to know.
• Company values are performative, not practiced
• You're told you're "family"—you're not. Keep problems to yourself, this is something less experienced people understand till it's too late.