Pros
When I started at WMH, I was looking for a unique opportunity at an early-stage company where I was given a voice and the latitude to make a real difference. So far, I've found that to be true. I joined the company in a client facing role, thinking it would be the right fit based on prior, similar roles. It became clear over time, however, that my skill set was better suited to help the company manage operations internally. Leadership not only supported, but encouraged, my transition. They've been realistic and honest about the state of the organization today and, more importantly, where they'd like to go, knowing full well that it will take the collective team to forge the path to get there. I would never have had this level of responsibility and autonomy at this point in my career at a more established company. Management has taken an active role in soliciting feedback from employees with the goal of identifying and resolving concerns through an external consulting firm and regular feedback sessions. As the company has grown, they've also incorporated management training for all new leadership team members to ensure the company's core values continue to drive decisions.
Cons
Early-stage companies are not for everybody. They require managing many priorities, often with little time and few resources. Success requires wearing a lot of different hats (sometimes, ones you don't particularly like) until the business is in the place to bring on additional support. But, with high risk comes high reward. Personally, the challenges above are worth it.