Pros
Because of the incredible people on my team and a few others, this was my favorite jobs. The team executed absolutely top-tier campaigns and are some of the best I've ever worked with. It’s unfortunate to see the team no longer intact.
Cons
Recent layoffs following the executive orders impacted Arbinger. While I understand that layoffs are sometimes necessary, the process felt unstructured and left many employees feeling uncertain and concerned. Arbinger attracts talented and capable employees, but leadership struggles to fully trust their teams, often relying on established methods and favoring familiar voices. This approach limits innovation and adaptability, even when data supports new directions. As a result, the company can feel resistant to change, impacting its ability to respond to evolving markets. Conversations with leadership are challenging. Employees often encounter "soft behaviors" (avoiding feedback) or "hard behaviors" (dismissiveness). In meetings and public settings, leadership's nonverbal cues and reactions can come across as dismissive, which greatly reduces psychological safety. Fostering a more supportive and receptive environment would help employees feel more comfortable sharing ideas and feedback. This is compounded as constructive feedback is limited and criticism is instead filtered through intermediaries, making it difficult for employees to improve or even understand expectations. Accountability is another area for growth, as leadership is often underprepared for big commitments. This can lead to a culture of blame-shifting rather than transparent problem-solving. Additionally, career advancement can feel influenced by internal dynamics, where opportunities are linked to one's alignment with key decision-makers rather than merit. This dynamic can affect employee morale and the willingness to go against the grain.