Great people - Project Manager Brooks Bell Employee Review

Highly people-centric. Workers are valued and there is very high flexibility. An agency setting means the work is always changing, and creativity is valued in terms of how we work with clients. Lots of collaboration with all client work, and leadership is very accessible (i.e. easy to meet with and talk to).

Upward mobility is difficult unless you can show lots of value and creativity to propose new solutions--and even then, with a small company resources are tight so shifting roles dramatically may not be easy. The small agency setting also means that sometimes the work can come in fast with tight deadlines. Finally, depending on the personality type, this is definitely a place which requires high self-motivation and high people skills: this can be a pro for creative, social types; but it can be very much a con for those who need specificity and structure, and who might be more introverted/anxious types.

Great flexibility and benefits. There was always a ton to learn from the SME's. Ceaseless opportunities for collaboration. Most were friendly and inviting, encouraging an environment for new ideas and creativity.

During my time at Brooks Bell, I encountered several challenges that made it difficult to succeed in my role. While the company emphasizes a culture of openness to all personality types, I was told I needed to adopt a "professional extrovert" persona, which felt contradictory to their stated values. This expectation created an uncomfortable environment, especially during a period when I was navigating personal challenges. Additionally, conversations during meetings were often triggering, and I felt pressured to engage in non-work-related discussions, which should never be a requirement for success. The training process was another significant issue. Leadership did not provide structured or adequate training resources, instead delegating this responsibility to senior team members who were already overburdened. Communication was inconsistent; I often received conflicting instructions from project managers and leadership, which led to confusion and inefficiencies. While I was encouraged to take initiative, my efforts were sometimes praised and other times micromanaged, depending on their relationships with clients. Leadership expected rapid responses from me, but they did not hold themselves to the same standard. One notable challenge was the monthly reporting process, which was widely acknowledged as unsustainable long before I joined. Despite this, no proactive solutions were implemented, leaving me to navigate the inefficiencies with little support. When issues arose, I was criticized for not foreseeing problems that were systemic and well-documented. I also want to note that quarterly reviews lacked a meaningful opportunity for me to provide feedback. When I attempted to address concerns about inconsistent expectations and unprofessional communication from a project manager, it led to a breakdown in the working relationship. I believe accountability and mutual respect are critical for a healthy work environment, and I hope this feedback can help inform improvements for future hires.