Pros
At first, this job felt like a dream job. From great benefits to exciting work events that really bonded me to the mission, I found great satisfaction in using my skills in ways that made a real impact. The folks I worked with on a day-to-day basis were fun, smart, and motivated. I created some great working relationships and added new skills to my portfolio.
Cons
Nothing gold can stay. NSTXL/Innovas spiraled downward over the years, kicking off with some C-Suite level changes. From there, what had started as an exciting job with growth and freedom morphed into an anxiety-ridden day-to-day swarming with blame, back-to-back organizational system failures, and an earned feeling of mistrust across teams and departments. How did we get here, after such a strong start? 1. Lack of infrastructure and accountability: The dysfunction flows directly from the top. A cabal of executive and senior leaders operate with effective immunity, while blame is consistently redirected downward when things go wrong. Employees who fall outside the orbit of “favorites” risk becoming collateral damage. This culture is deeply corrosive to productivity. 2. Turnover that signals structural failure: During my tenure, the HR department turned over three times. Multiple VPs were hired and exited in quick succession. My own department was approaching 100% turnover by the time I left. Employees were let go without PIPs, without coaching, and without process. Others quit while they had the chance. The constant sea of change reduced trust, and the leaders didn’t seem to care. I tried to speak up about the issues multiple times but was gaslit and/or saw no follow up. 3. Limited room for growth: Many employees, including myself, sought mentorship and advancement opportunities. Requests for actionable feedback were met with platitudes like "be more strategic” with no guidance on what that meant or how to get there. In my department, initiative and hard-work were not rewarded, which eroded motivation. If you are considering a role here, go in with clear eyes. You may land on a functional team with a decent manager and find moments of genuine satisfaction, but ultimately you will be operating inside a broken system which will eventually affect you. If culture, stability, and growth matter to you, my advice is to proceed with serious caution. Joining this organization (especially on the marketing department) is a huge risk.