A deeply toxic environment masked by superficial perks
Pros
Free lunch Genuinely smart people that, outside of leadership, are nice The offices are decent
Cons
My time at Rokt was one of the most stressful professional experiences I've ever endured. As a CSM, I found myself in a culture that prioritized intimidation over development, and fear over transparency. The leadership fails to address systemic issues within the company, preferring to dismiss those who struggle instead of taking the time to improve processes or provide adequate training. During my year at Rokt, I witnessed over 30% of the CSM organization placed on Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs)—a staggering number for an organization of around 100 people. Rather than using these plans as a genuine tool for improvement, they seemed like a means to push people out. It was clear that they valued turnover over retention, which creates a constant atmosphere of job insecurity and fear. Leadership is overwhelmingly young and inexperienced, with many having spent their entire careers at Rokt. This insularity leads to a lack of perspective and an unwillingness to challenge the status quo. They hold "calibration meetings" that feel more like judgment sessions, where they decide whether your performance meets their arbitrary standards—often with little explanation or clear criteria. And if you’re not one of their "golden, Australian children," your chances of success are even lower. It’s clear they play favorites, and if you’re not in the inner circle, the path forward is an uphill battle. They love to hire young professionals who are newly out of college who don't have previous working experience so they don't think there's anything wrong and that this is a normal working environment (it's not). Expectations are often unrealistic, and there is little room for error or learning. Bruce and Elizabeth, in particular, set standards that are impossible to meet without feeling like you're constantly falling short. Mistakes are not seen as opportunities to grow but rather as reasons to question your capabilities and job security. Expectations around office attendance is also quite frustrating -- 4 days required in office, even on a holiday week after arriving home from a company trip to Australia 2 days prior. There is no flexibility on anything. Moreover, there are serious cultural issues within the organization, including a history of misogyny and racism that has led to multiple lawsuits (Google it). The lack of diversity in the leadership team only exacerbates these problems, creating an environment where discrimination isn't properly addressed (they claim things like Black Face "aren't racist in Australia" and that "Australia has no racism" yet I witnessed it via comments towards the Aboriginal people). The perks, like free lunches and company trips, might look good on paper, but they don't make up for the lack of support, poor management, and toxic atmosphere. If you're looking for a place that values your growth and respects you as a professional, look elsewhere. Rokt is not that place.