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Hi there. This is Sue Marks, and first I want to thank you for your roughly 5 years of service. I’d also like to tell you how sorry I am – and we all are – that you’ve left with such a poor view of the organization. I know the team reads every review we get on Glassdoor, and this one digs deeper than any I’ve seen in a while.
I don’t think there’s ever been a more challenging time to lead and manage in any industry, but particularly ours. Post-pandemic changes in employees’ desires for different workstyles, coupled with the promise and peril of AI, multiplied by macroeconomic and global risk have had a huge impact on our business, and our clients’ businesses. So … the market is changing. Our business is changing. Our clients’ business needs and expectations are changing. In other words … we are living through a stunning and historic change … a shift has happened and there’s no going back. We have to adjust.
OK, you’re probably saying … this is just more “corporate speak."
As the founder and now a board member, I do recognize that many of the changes we’ve had to make over the past couple years are disheartening. There’s no other way to put it – it’s hard, and the team doesn’t enter into the decisions lightly. And while this really sucks, I do know that I certainly wasn’t a perfect leader, and I had to make similarly big and difficult changes. No matter who is in the CEO seat right now, it’s extraordinarily difficult. The timing of our CEO succession and the unfolding of external factors that have impacted our business has happened at many organizations, and it has made it very challenging for us as a board, and for CEO Marissa Geist & her team.
So … explanations are fine, but you had a lousy experience. How are Marissa and the team going to work to continue to change and lean into a future we believe in, a future that creates more opportunities, and a future that wins in the marketplace during what is probably the biggest and most rapid change in at least a couple of generations? You'll see and feel a recommitment to our vision and values around people and clients, illuminating talent in OUR organization, imagining better for OUR people…making these statements actionable, and more than empty “slogans.” We’ll do a better job with our “values in motion” to recognize the everyday heroes in our company. And we’ll more thoughtfully and proactively live our PEOPLE values (believing in the power of working together, creating a better sense of belonging, continuing to deliver on innovation, etc) so that we continue to deserve the commitment and exceptional efforts of our team members.
I’m really sorry you had this experience and thank you for providing feedback so we can improve our organization. I’d encourage you to contact Marissa Geist or Molly Thiel directly with any additional details they can address.
