Pros
- Passionate, mission-driven team with smart, dedicated colleagues who care deeply about the work.
- Exposure to a wide range of operational functions; valuable for those looking to broaden their skill set.
- The CEO handled the layoff process with empathy and professionalism.
- I received a strong endorsement from senior leadership upon departure, which I appreciated and reflects the quality of my contributions.
Kontras
- The role I was hired for did not reflect the responsibilities I was ultimately assigned. I was expected to take on office management, executive assistant duties, HR administration, and finance work (including bookkeeping, Quickbooks, and bank/credit card reconciliation), often with little context or resources.
- Seating the Operations Manager at reception, in an office with minimal on-site gender diversity, framed the role as purely administrative and undercut my authority to lead strategic initiatives.
- Communication around priorities was inconsistent, and the management style leaned toward micromanagement rather than trust-based collaboration.
- While the layoff was not performance-related, unclear expectations and shifting responsibilities made it difficult to operate effectively.
- The experience clarified the importance of role alignment and has made me more intentional about seeking opportunities where I can contribute at a strategic level.