Unique academic environment promotes innovation and opportunity to personally influence organizational outcomes.
Pros
Academic culture of diverse, self-directed, highly motivated, cooperative, smart, professional staff. A non-profit organization with a "higher purpose" driving achievement, growth, global expansion and mission. Great environment for autonomy, innovation, creative thinking and upward mobility for qualified leaders in their fields. Broad spectrum of business and academic roles encourage multi-discipline approaches to team and project building and opportunities to grow personal knowledge and expertise while achieving mission-driven corporate (and project) objectives.
Cons
Despite one's own record of achievement, performance, long-term service, relevance of contributions in key strategic mission-central projects, or professional status -- unless that level is VP or higher -- the company offers nothing in terms of ongoing benefits or support if an employee is forced to stop working due to illness and a resulting permanent disability. That's not to say that LTD disability insurance (which offers limited coverage and benefits) is not made available to everyone, but once even the most long-term, high-achiever finds him or herself in that position, all benefits that are critical to support, sustain and even continue to improve their quality of life, or any chance of staying on course toward a sustainable financial future and retirement... is completely taken away. This policy and practice is ruinous and totally incongruous with the culture of compassion and support they claim to practice and possess.
