Pros
My experience with Deutsche Knowledge Services was defined by a deeply hierarchical culture where power dynamics overshadowed operational excellence. Leadership often operated with a sense of entitlement, and employees were frequently on the receiving end of dismissive or condescending behavior.
A telling example: a head of a function once emailed me saying, “a bit of context helps (if you have it already) as opposed to simply forwarding a mail and expecting people to read through the entire history – especially if you’re asking for something.”
If this is considered acceptable communication from leadership, it speaks volumes. The tone was unnecessarily pointed, and the intent felt less about clarity and more about asserting dominance.
Interactions like this were not isolated. They reflected a broader pattern where political maneuvering mattered and often guised as collaboration, and where psychological safety was noticeably absent. Employees, in particular, bore the brunt of this culture, often feeling undermined rather than supported. Based on my experience, I would recommend this as a healthy or empowering workplace if you thrive in the environment I just described. A company’s culture is defined by how its leaders communicate, and in this case, the environment consistently rewarded respect - regrettably, only to a very select and powerful few.
Cons
nothing i could think of apart from what is already stated.