Pros
Kanopy has a secure business model, outstanding employees, and so much potential. The office itself is beautiful, replete with exposed brick, windows overlooking the bay, and minimalist design. The work is often engaging and there is never a dull moment. Like most startups, team structures are always in flux, so there is a lot of room for upward mobility and carving out your own niche. Needless to say, working adjacent to the film industry is glamorous and fun. Most of all, the staff are superbly talented and genuinely good people.
Cons
The problems with the company start at the top and trickle down. The CEO is very irrational and exhibits a dearth of professionalism. She is known for bullying upper management and sending overtly aggressive emails to all employees. Too often, her inexperience in business holds back the success of the company. As a result, the turnover rate is astronomical. Some big talent has walked through the Kanopy doors, but typically they clash with the CEO at some point and are unceremoniously ousted. It’s a shame to watch this cycle repeat so often. Unfortunately, the CEO micromanages admin as well, who quit frequently and with zero notice. Of course, workloads are steep, but with such a high turnover rate most people are barely keeping their heads above water. During my tenure it seemed as though the company was shrinking faster than it was growing. One can certainly advance quickly at Kanopy, but be wary as their procedures and lexicon are far from industry standard. Moreover, the CEO has a terrible reputation in the film industry. This can hamper employees trying to build a career. In terms of culture, the air inside the office is thick with fear and stress. There is zero transparency about layoffs, no loyalty, the benefits are notoriously subpar, work/life balance is nil, and the saddest thing of all is there is no respect for the cinematic artform. I witnessed severely unethical practices and heard of similar tales going back to the company’s founding. Unfortunately, HR is unreliable in this regard and seemingly inexperienced.