Great on the surface...not so much after digging deeper - Anonymous employee Architizer Employee Review

2.0
Aug 7, 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

1. Low stress, lots of flexibility (almost no one arrives at 9am, people often leave early to run errands, unlimited vacation policy) 2. Nice office (the CEO is an architect, after all) 3. The frontline employees are genuinely nice people 4. The pay is good (compared to other startups) considering the amount of work we're expected to do

Cons

1. High voluntary turnover.........This includes talented people in marketing (including CMO, marketing project manager), sales (7 people left in less than 1 yr...the CPO is now "acting" head of sales and we've struggled mightily to recruit), and product (2 VPs)....keep in mind this is only a 40 person company that's trying to scale 2. Leadership is incompetent and insecure (the worst combination possible)......being fake friendly on the exterior to make you ignore real underlying issues.......if you ask about real business issues, they tell stories and hype you up to gloss over it without giving you any real explanations, so just smile and agree with everything they say 3. Zero opportunity for career growth, no meritocracy.......there are a few leaders who are just those who have been there longest, everyone else is given a "manager" title and just expected to follow orders 4. Lip service vs. facts.......you'll see that in the difference between the buzzwords thrown out on the company's website, job postings, and even HR's responses to other Glassdoor reviews vs. the details provided in this review

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Architizer Response
8y
Hi Anonymous Employee, You levy some tough criticism on the company that warrants a thoughtful response. I can't argue with you that it has been a windy road as we have clarified our business and now work to build the right team. In a perfect world, where we are perfect leaders, it might have been a more linear journey and maybe no one would have chosen to, or been asked to, leave. Trying to change an entire industry is difficult, but no matter how difficult the process, we always treat our team with respect, even when we need to part ways. Unlimited vacation and flexible hours aren't perks, they represent the kind of trust we have in the people at Architizer. Yes, people abuse the policies sometimes, but that is usually a symptom of a misalignment between the company's goals and the team member's goals. It seems we may have such a case here. I wish you had voiced your concerns in any one of the multiple forums we have made available—Weekly 1:1s, Bi-Weekly Town Halls, Bi-Annual Reviews, or just coming over for a talk—so that we could work through the issues you raise. No one here is averse to criticism, even tough criticism, as long as it is constructive so that we can, as you suggest, look in the mirror and find ways to improve. Your review is super articulate, and you have clearly thought a lot about these issues. I encourage you to come discuss them with me. If you feel like you can't, or would prefer not to, then for your sake and the company's, you should be pursuing a position at a company that is more suitable. I encourage you to use your frustration to provoke the company better, or to make me a better leader. Nothing we are doing is easy, and we will continue to make mistakes and the process will continue to be messy. The people who thrive at Architizer are willing to greet these challenges with patience, persistence, and a good sense of humor. That's how we are working to learn from the past to build a singularly focused company that will transform architecture. It sucks that I learned about your criticism here, anonymously, but I'm glad you found a way to get it out. Now help me address it. Tell us why you couldn’t get it across internally, and what you think we should do to move forward. Marc

Explore other reviews about Architizer

5.0
Jun 28, 2024
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Architizer has evolved many times over the years but in recent times has benefited from a smaller team of multi-disciplinary talents, with everyone working hard for each other, navigating challenges together and sharing in the successes. A supportive culture and creative freedom define Architizer, which is much needed as it sits at the cross-section of two intense industries: Digital media and architecture.

Cons

Architizer could benefit from a singular, clear business model, something which the company has been striving for for a number of years and getting closer in recent times.

5.0
Aug 15, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

From the top down, Architizer promotes a positive office culture, recognizing the value of positive encouragement just as much as constructive criticism. Despite the pressures that are part-and-parcel of a startup, the atmosphere is healthy! There is a good balance between guidance from above and opportunities for self-improvement. The trust placed in younger members of staff is superb. This culture fosters great levels of pro-active behavior and a sense of ownership over one's work. Despite the obvious challenges pertaining to revenue and industry disruption, this company remains a fun and rewarding place to work. There is also a great balance between support for each individual's professional journey, and their personal one — the managers and directors genuinely care, and they listen. There is a constant effort to ensure that every staff member's voice is heard, no matter what level they are at. Most of all though, this is an incredibly exciting company to work for, because we are creating a platform that will disrupt a huge industry and make a huge difference to one of the most important professions in the world. It's an inspiring goal!

Cons

Acting as thought leaders for an entire industry and building a comprehensive digital tool from the ground up is exciting, but it's also tough — the journey requires trying and sometimes failing with various strategies, but with each test we learn so much and keep building. Scrappiness and determination will get you everywhere in the start-up world, and it's no different at Architizer.

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