Pros
After being with Crunchyroll for a couple years now, I am still pinching myself and often wonder how I got so lucky. Albeit a bit cheesy, my adoration and respect goes deep so I figured I'd share for the curious minds out there :) I'll focus mainly on culture, being apart of a healthy culture under strong leaders is invaluable to me. Transparently (and perhaps cynically) I'm a 'see it to believe it' type when it comes to a company's "About Us" page. As I've matured in my career I have learned that there are plenty of companies out there with catchy, admirable values and frothy mission statements--but in reality they are just words. That's not the case at Crunchyroll. The values and mission are sacred within the company. It's hard to explain, but you can literally feel the passion and commitment to helping everyone belong-- Crunchyroll's mission of belonging is its DNA and it's intrinsically woven into all interactions and decisions no matter how big or small. I already said this but you can feel it, everyday. Uniqueness is celebrated, strengths are built upon, feedback is embraced and the desire and drive for constant forward progress is inspiring. It's an honor to be a part of their community and vision. Similarly on the topic of culture, they passionately care for their employees. The office experience sets the bar of excellence and they are constantly raising it. Subtitled Anime playing in casual gathering spots, life sized anime bringing the screen to life, catered lunches everyday, fresh fruit, snacks, nearly every popular beverage you can think of, puzzles, card and board games, ping pong, office events and happy hours, SWAG. I literally love my office days and enjoy the time with my officemates. When in person interaction became a thing of the past in a blink, and has hugely remained that way-- Crunchyroll keeps it a priority and roll's out the 'orange' carpet everyday for those coming in. There's a ton of value in meeting your colleagues and gathering in person, and they go above and beyond to make it safe, comfortable and really fun :). Equally as important is remote work and the flexibility to I cherish my ability to work from home a handful days each week. For me personally, I have the perfect recipe for a balanced work life. Lastly I'll briefly touch on my work-- It helps that I am obsessed with my craft and find a ton of meaning and fulfillment in what I do. But when it comes to Crunchyroll, my passion and engagement is massively amplified by their commitment to my empowerment, growth, grace and ownership (to name a few). I am mentored and coached on where to stretch my wings and also celebrated in moments of courageousness.
Cons
To preference, I am not a fan of the word choice of "Cons". I see discussions like this more as opportunities to innovate, learn more about each other, the work we share and to be used as road markers to help fine tune our path towards a shared vision. One thing I would highlight is there is work to be done on streamlining processes and empowering our employees with the ability and agility to self serve. The information is there, and service is paramount, but there's efficiency and simplification steps we are collectively solving for. Resources that reach large audiences (in varying time zones), on their terms and and in the moment they need it. Having your 'go-to' person for the information you need is not scalable. Employee experience is greatly improved when folks know where to go to get the job done. Another is getting the right tasks and decision making power in the right hands. Too many cooks in the kitchen can slow down the line.
