A Masterclass in How to Ruin Your Own Company - Marketing Strategist SmartBug Media Employee Review

1. Culture 2. The SmartBug team from the top down--really lives by the company's values, and doesn't just preach them, but demonstrates daily that they practice them. I respect the relationship I have with my manager, who is not only an inspirational colleague but also a friend. 3. Caliber of clients--you get to work with amazing companies and teams from all over the world! 4. Flexibility--I get to build into my schedule things that are important to me, like driving my kids to school every day. 5. Opportunity--you are rewarded for good work, have the ability to earn commissions on accounts you sell deeper into, and there is a huge push for ongoing education and career development. 6. Innovators--consistently on the cutting edge of new technologies and strategies.

Client work can be stressful--that's not SmartBug, that's ALL agencies. If an agency tells you it isn't, they are lying. If you are a person who doesn't handle pressure or difficult conversations easily, then this might not be the industry for you. I've worked at 3 agencies, and SmartBug is unmatched in comparison to the tools and resources they provide to do your best job every day, even when a client throws you a curveball.

Talented coworkers, strong legacy culture, great learning opportunities, historically excellent client relationships.

Steep declining culture, lack of trust in executive leadership, poor support for delivery teams, CEO disconnected from employees and the company's history. There was a time when this company stood out for all the right reasons. The culture genuinely valued work-life balance, leadership trusted employees, and the company attracted exceptional talent. I had the opportunity to work alongside some of the smartest, most dedicated colleagues in my career, and many of our clients were long-term partners who respected the expertise we brought to the table. Unfortunately, much of that has changed under the current leadership. Since the arrival of the most recent CEO and sales leadership, there has been little effort to understand the company, its people, or the culture that contributed to its success. Any employee who had been part of the company for over a few years are completely devalued and written off. Decisions often feel disconnected from the realities of the business and the experiences of employees who have spent years building client relationships and delivering results. One of the most troubling aspects has been the leadership style. The CEO frequently speaks differently about people in private than they do in person, creating an environment where trust is difficult to maintain. There is a great deal of discussion about vision, values, and transformation, but far less follow-through or meaningful action. The client-first mentality has also become unhealthy. Rather than establishing reasonable boundaries or supporting employees when clients behave unprofessionally, executive leadership often expects delivery teams to absorb the pressure and "do whatever it takes" regardless of the impact on workload, stress levels, or employee well-being. The message is clear: keeping clients happy matters more than protecting the people doing the work. The most disappointing part is knowing what this company used to be. The foundation was strong, the people were talented, and the culture was something employees were proud of. It is difficult to watch those strengths erode because leadership seems more focused on appearances and short-term demands than on the long-term health of the organization.