Known reviews

KNOWN claims to be an innovative and client-focused advertising agency, but a closer look reveals significant issues affecting creatives. One major problem is wasted time and effort on projects beyond the original scope, fueled by unrealistic expectations that create chaos and pressure among the team. The company's toxic culture undervalues hard work, prioritizing tight deadlines and immediate results over artists' well-being. The convoluted chain of command and multiple layers of executive creatives lead to chaotic decision-making. The impulsive actions of management further disrupts project workflow, fostering an atmosphere with stressed and unhappy teams. Talented individuals face exploitation due to excessive executive interference, stifling creativity and causing delays and cost overruns. One incident involving a dedicated artist investing an entire weekend on a project, only to be dismissed based on a subjective creative decision, highlights the lack of appreciation and fair treatment by management. Moreover, the company's approach to compensating employees raises concerns, with artists asked to lower their rates after the company had previously agreed upon those rates. Lastly, the executive leadership, which often interferes and hinders genuine creative innovation, lacks diversity and equality. It's evident that a specific type of person climbs the ladder, leaving individuals of color or diverse backgrounds relegated to lower junior roles.

1. Constant layoffs due to over-projection of financial performance. CEO priorities are to hire more C-suite and short-change everyone else- as a result many leaders (VP/Partners) and junior employees (including myself) quit and went to another agency 2. They do NOT let you take unlimited PTO because they overload the work 3. Expected to work late nights, weekends past midnight, everything is an emergency, and don't even think about pushing back- you'll get fired 4. Toxic upper management- lie about promotions and bonuses- never receive them due to poor financial planning, but C-Suite hires other Executive 'Yes Men' 5. Upper management takes huge amounts of PTO and squeezes junior employees dry in the process- they do not care about you 6. Cutthroat culture- I was forced to put together documents to fire other employees even when I did not want to. I saw so many people get fired (20+) in my time at this company. Don't walk... RUN away from Known.