I worked at Consulum for nearly a year, and it was, without a doubt, one of the most unpleasant professional experiences of my career. While a handful of colleagues were smart, fair, and professional, they were vastly outnumbered by a toxic leadership culture that crushed any hope of a positive work environment.
A favourite saying from senior management was, “This is not a place for everyone.” This was less a motivator and more of a justification for their autocratic and bullying behaviour. In fact, the leadership style reminded me of the Communist Party of China—authoritarian, unaccountable, and absolutely intolerant of dissent. Anyone who questioned the way things were run or had an alternative view was swiftly shut down, alienated, or pressured until they conformed or left. They ruled with an iron fist, making poor decisions with no input from staff, and anyone who voiced disagreement was branded as “not a fit” for the company.
Mental harassment was rampant. Management thrived on creating stress, micromanaging employees to the point of exhaustion, and creating an atmosphere of fear where speaking up was dangerous. No matter how hard you worked or how much value you brought, the default response was to make you feel inadequate, as if nothing was ever good enough.
Sexism was blatant and widespread. Women were regularly dismissed, overlooked, and spoken over in meetings, while their male counterparts were given preferential treatment. The few women who did manage to get their voices heard were often patronised or belittled by senior leaders. It was shocking how far behind the times this company seemed when it came to gender equality.
