Pros

Great to work with authors, perk of free books, ability to be creative--I'd say the majority of positions in the company involve some degree of creativity. There are a good number of really passionate and talented people who can make you feel lucky to work here.

Cons

The usual publishing woes and lack of morale apply, since this is a company in the middle of a hugely evolving industry. Speaking of evolving--in terms of digital strategy, Harper isn't all that organized, which is really surprising, since all roads to the future point in that direction. There's little about their initiatives really feel state-of-the-art. Management varies imprint to imprint, but it sometimes feels as if the powers-that-be are comfortable accepting that the experiences of employees at the manager level (and above) are the only true indicator of the company's internal climate.

Advice to Senior Management

Solicit more feedback from assistants and non-managerial staff, figure out ways to build morale, and start really hammering down digital platforms that are going to make all Harper's jobs a lot more dynamic.