Strong Mission, But a Culture That Undermines It - Anonymous employee Anima Employee Review

You can tell yourself you're doing good for the world, though in reality the product isn't up to scratch and customers are leaving in droves (have a look at the reviews elsewhere if you don't believe me).

Working here feels like you're constantly walking on eggshells with a CEO whose behaviour is genuinely damaging and toxic. There's loads of chat about "no ego" and "taking ownership," but when it comes down to it, everything runs through the manipulative CEO. You're micromanaged to death, called out in front of everyone, and if you dare push back, you're out. The turnover is mental. People quit constantly or get fired left and right for reasons that don't really make sense ("culture fit"). Promises about progression, support, flexible working are all a lie. There's zero work-life balance, and burnout is constant. The way things are run is basically a mix of intimidation, mind games, and public humiliation. Feedback isn't meant to help you improve, it's used to knock you down and keep you in line. The CEO openly undermines people, including other senior staff, which just creates this atmosphere where everyone's anxious and insecure. This isn't a high-performance culture by any stretch. It's a toxic environment where the CEO's ego runs the show and everyone else is just trying to survive. If you're thinking about joining, seriously talk to people who've left first. And be ready to leave quickly if you value your mental health, your career, or just being treated with basic respect.

During my interview process for Anima, someone told me that a year on I'd look back and find myself unrecognisable. They were right. The growth you go on here is astounding, and unlike anything I've experienced at other companies. You're given ownership and autonomy, and you're encouraged to keep pushing your own limits. The environment is energising too. Everyone is locked in and genuinely passionate about what they do. I've learned more in my 18 months here than I did in the six years before it. Everyone has their own reason for joining Anima. Mine was the mission. I'd bet a fair few people reading this have spent most of their careers in SaaS, solving 'pain'. And I'd guess that when you're in the pub trying to explain that 'pain' to your friends, their eyes glaze over. Anima isn't like that. Every single person I tell about our mission, their eyes light up. This is something that affects nearly everyone I know, and getting to take on that challenge day in, day out is a privilege I don't take for granted. The last thing, and probably the most important, is the people. You couldn't wish to meet a better group than the ones who work here. I've made friends at Anima I'll keep for the rest of my life. The clearest proof of that is our offsites. I've worked remotely for the last six years, so I've been on plenty of offsites at various companies, and I used to dread them. At Anima I spend the whole year looking forward to them. At other places I'd end up pretending to be someone I wasn't, whether that was tweaking my accent slightly or feigning interest in things I didn't actually care about, all to fit in. None of that matters here. I'm just me, and that's refreshing. It means every interaction I have at work is a completely genuine one.

Same as any startup really, pace is rapid, expectations are high, targets are ambitious, but that's exactly what I signed up for. Yes, of course there are days when I question whether I would prefer an easier ride, but then I remember just how mind-numbingly dull that would be. Some people aren't suited for companies like Anima, and that's okay. If you are someone who thrives in startup environments, you'll find a group of kindred spirits here.