Pros
Supportive leadership at the executive level (the owner), who genuinely cared about employee well-being and growth and was very accommodating. Exposure to exciting growth and new challenges; the company was scaling fast and there were opportunities to get involved in strategic initiatives. Friendly, long-tenured staff. Many colleagues had been there for 3+ years, which speaks volumes about the work culture. Reasonable work-life balance and a calmer pace compared to many startups or high-pressure environments.
Cons
Mid-management dynamics could be challenging at times, which made it difficult to grow within the team. Internal communication and alignment could be improved. Benefits were fairly basic when I was there — not a dealbreaker, but worth reviewing if employee retention is a focus.