Pluspunten
There was a time when BrandExtract was genuinely one of the best places to work because of the staff. Talented, passionate people doing meaningful work. Happy clients. That culture was real, and I was proud to be part of it.
Minpunten
I watched that culture erode. In the past two years, nearly 50 people have walked out the door. Four rounds of layoffs plus a steady stream of people who simply chose to leave. Good people. Really good people.
The exit of one of the original founders marked a turning point the current leadership has never recovered from.The top-down environment was always there. It was just hidden behind fake gestures that look like culture but aren't. Once the mask came off, what was left was an environment where employees are routinely undermined, second-guessed and made to feel small. Cutthroat leadership throws tantrums, points fingers and cannot accept any responsibility. Micromanagement is the norm. The humanity of the people doing the work is not a consideration. Even clients are not fooled.
What's hard to reconcile is that this is a branding firm, one that advises other companies on how to lead and build cultures worth working in, but is unable to manage its own house. The financial instability is visible. Business development is an afterthought.
