Pros
At the time of writing, I'm rounding the corner on Year 1. It's been a wild, enriching ride. Professional success is a cocktail of hard work, talent, and context (right place, right time). Like other top creative agencies in Portland (Swift, Instrument, AKQA), the talent at Watson is exceptional. The people know how to grind and have fun doing it. The clients are diverse and (for the most part) a pleasure to work with, from multinational organizations to Silicon Valley startups. But it's the context—where the agency is at in its development—that is most "pinch-yourself" exciting. Big, big things are happening. And since it's a small shop (~25 full-time staff), everybody plays a significant role in shaping the future. Leadership intentionally curates a culture of transparency and collaboration. This provides the day-in, day-out work with a jolt of meaning.
Cons
Scaling is always a challenge. Maturation is emotionally and physically taxing. Processes are getting better. The right people filling out the right roles will help mitigate the growing pains.