Pros
I did not have a positive experience and therefore cannot identify any meaningful pros.
Cons
The biggest problem this company has is its PRESIDENT. In my opinion, she lacks the leadership experience necessary for the position, and the impact of her decisions has been felt throughout the organization. Many of the problems I observed during my fellowship can be traced back to poor leadership, poor planning, and poor judgment at the top.
Another issue is that the CEO appears to follow the president's lead instead of exercising independent leadership. The CEO should be running the company and providing direction, but from what I observed, the president has far too much influence over operations.
One of the most frustrating aspects of working with this company was that both the president and CEO wanted to be involved in everything. Every decision, approval, or process seemed to require their involvement. However, when guidance or support was actually needed, neither was available. Emails and requests often went unanswered for long periods, causing delays and creating unnecessary obstacles for employees and fellows trying to complete their work.
As an HOH Fellow, I regret choosing this company for my fellowship. Had I known what I know now, I would have selected a more established and professionally managed organization. From the beginning, I noticed how disorganized the president was. Military fellows were assigned to departments that had little or nothing to do with their backgrounds or professional experience. Individuals with no IT experience were placed in IT roles, while others were assigned to departments that did not match their skills. These assignments made little sense and reflected a lack of planning and understanding of personnel management.
The company also conducted far too many unnecessary meetings filled with repetitive, confusing, and often contradictory information. Time was wasted on tasks that added little value, and there was a lack of clear direction. Even some of the position descriptions presented to fellows appeared to be AI-generated and lacked the level of professionalism expected from an organization working with government clients and military professionals.
For a company serving government clients, I expected a much higher standard of leadership, organization, and accountability. Instead, I witnessed confusion, delays, poor communication, and a lack of professionalism from the highest levels of leadership.
One bright spot was an HR professional who was outstanding at her job. She was highly professional, responsive, supportive, and always willing to help. She presented herself exceptionally well and was exactly the type of person this company needed in a leadership role. However, she was present only at the beginning of my fellowship and then suddenly disappeared. My understanding is that she may have resigned. If that is the case, it raises additional concerns about the work environment and leadership within the company. Losing one of the most competent and professional employees I encountered speaks volumes.
Overall, I believe the president's leadership has caused significant harm to the company's effectiveness, reputation, and culture. The organization has potential, but until there is accountability and stronger leadership at the top, I do not see these problems improving. Based on my experience, I would not recommend this company to future fellows, and I believe its leadership practices deserve close scrutiny.