Pros
I don't write these often but recently this company has made such tremendous strides I feel like it's necessary to reflect publicly. I have worked for several start up companies - and the absolutely most refreshing part about this one is the business model is sound, the product-market fit is clear, and the positive impact to people is tremedously gratifying. I often tell people, the biggest problem this company faces is figuring out how to do more at scale (which is expected for any org this size) - but the foundation and the mechanisms for success are all there. You have no idea how critical this is (and how often it's missing) if you've never worked for start ups before. Outside of the above, we have leaders that care about the people. I've witnessed them make several decisions that don't necessarily benefit the company, but do REALLY benefit the team. Good work is rewarded. I love the work I'm responsible for, feel like I have the leeway to make decisions and lead, and I am challenged and growing professionally. I am doing things at Sondermind that would have taken years to learn somewhere else. Perhaps most importantly, I've NEVER seen this company even come close to crossing a moral or ethical line- in fact it's quite the opposite. We prioritize the care of the people we serve above all else. It feels like these days you see healthcare companies being indicted or investigated every week- and I have every confidence that that will just never happen here.
Cons
I don't think this is a con, but the expectations are high. When you raise the amount of money we've raised, the pressure to do well and do better is there. And it should be. Like any place, there are headaches. There are days when I don't get up from my desk for 8 straight hours. There are days I wonder why we focused on "this" and not on "that". What we're trying to accomplish is HARD. There are complex, systemic problems in mental healthcare that MUST be redesigned. I don't say this to scare people, I say this because it's challenging work, but because of that, it's rewarding to be a part of. All in all, we're absolutely moving in the right direction and I have way more great days than bad.
