Pros
The people and team culture (that I worked with) were great. Many incredibly talented, passionate and hardworking individuals. Strong brand identity with products customers genuinely loved and connected with. Great exposure across multiple areas of the business including marketing, retail, PR, digital, education and sales. Fast-paced environment that teaches you how to problem solve quickly and operate independently. Flexible / remote working arrangements were a positive (but this only applied to Global market teams, HQ is onsite with limited WFH) Opportunity to build strong relationships with major retail partners like Sephora and gain valuable industry experience. If you are ambitious and proactive, you can gain senior-level experience relatively quickly.
Cons
Increasing levels of micromanagement and performance pressure over time, particularly during periods of broader business decline. Unrealistic sales expectations were often placed on small teams despite wider market challenges, reduced investment and factors outside of local control. There was extremely lean marketing budget allocated to global markets vs the growth expectations being set. Performance management processes felt reactive and, at times, unfair given the broader commercial issues impacting the business. Significant staff turnover and multiple resignations created instability and impacted morale. Lean resourcing meant employees were often doing the job of multiple people simultaneously. Lack of consistent long-term strategy made it difficult for teams to feel set up for success. High emotional investment from employees was not always matched with adequate support from leadership. Overall, brand with huge potential and genuinely amazing people, but the culture became increasingly difficult due to mounting pressure, micromanagement and unrealistic expectations during a challenging business period. Many employees cared deeply about the brand and worked extremely hard, but there was a disconnect between the realities of the market and the expectations placed on teams.