Pros
The opportunity to work with like-minded people, that you can bond over pop culture with. A great snack selection (until it was gone) Company phones/reimbursement plant Well-known brand, so you're able to make a lot of external connections with brands and celebrities
Cons
You're always expected to be "excited" about working at POPSUGAR and for anything that the brand is doing. If you call out any issues or potential problems you're often struck down with a passive aggressive email crafted by someone from the Editorial Management Team, which is funneled to your direct manager. Although they claim to care about POPSUGAR "values", those only represent what Brian and Lisa Sugar are interested in at the moment. There are many issues with diversity and sensitivity, and issues are often brushed off by empty promises and apologies...and lots and lots of tokenism. Time after time, POPSUGAR has had scandals due to really insensitive and racist content that goes live on the site. The leadership team's solve? Pretend it didn't happen and say "they have it under control". There's zero transparency about the business. Results are inflated and presented in a cult-like all hands meeting, where you're subject to bad jokes and cringe-inducing comments from Brian Sugar. The moment you stop drinking the POPSUGAR Kool-Aid (potential ad partner?) is the moment you become a "problem" within the company. I personally had a great career trajectory at POPSUGAR, and was able to take on a lot of fulfilling projects. My work was often praised and I was involved in a lot of important strategy conversations. Sadly, I was always underpaid and was never given a proper growth plan. When I inquired about this (multiple times) I would get the runaround, and end with an empty promise about growth and mobility the "next quarter". Despite my highs (and lows), I witnessed a lot of unfair treatment to other employees. Favoritism and nepotism are a key part of how the company is run. People are offered jobs, mobility, and promotions if you're close or related to the Sugars or any of their personal friends. The amount of "interns" we hired as a favor to a pal of the CEO is ridiculous. Most of the time these students weren't interested in the industry and were looking for something for their resume and an easy paycheck. The POPSUGAR Awards (a ceremony done yearly) is the equivalent of the Dundies, but worse because those awarded are obviously leadership favorites who have questionable ethics.
