I joined this organization deeply connected to its mission and I was excited to make a meaningful impact. I had been cautioned by a former employee about the culture, but I chose to move forward believing that my passion and work ethic would outweigh those concerns. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
The expectations placed on employees- particularly around budget and recruitment- are consistently unrealistic. Success often feels narrowly defined, and if you don't exceed those expectations, the environment will quickly become unsupportive and high-pressure.
Leadership plays a significant role in shaping the employee experience, and much of that depends on your direct manager. If your director does not actively advocate for you it can feel like you're navigating challenges alone. Despite long hours, strong results, and high-quality work, there is a persistent sense that it is never enough. You will always be expected to deliver MORE.
While the mission is meaningful and the people on the ground are passionate, the broader culture can make it difficult to sustain motivation or feel valued over time.
As inspired as you may be by researching Dr. Any Kolb, keep in mind you will be hearing more from Coker Powell and gaslit into believing cancer will not be cured if you do not ask for more, do more, work more.
