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Crain Communications

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A place that distrusts its employees and is as disconnected as it is overly hierarchical - Anonymous employee Crain Communications Employee Review

1.0
Aug 14, 2012
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Beautiful new Chicago location -Everyone is very courteous and friendly -Decent salary and benefits (if you didn't get them slashed during the 2009 crash) -The publications that do well are the ones with people that break away from the hierarchical drudgery

Cons

-Too much of a "whatever the boss/publisher/CEO says goes" mentality -Collaboration is said to be condoned, but most departments and publications have an entrenched territorial atmosphere -Employee happiness and good office culture are obviously not a priority. -The company doesn't even trust its employees to book a meeting room without an interpersonal manager as a go-between. -Independent projects, new positions and fresh approaches are often stalled or halted altogether due to lack of enthusiasm or office politics

Explore other reviews about Crain Communications

5.0
Jun 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Leadership Opportunities – You often lead event planning teams, coordinate vendors, and oversee event execution from start to finish. Creative Expression – The role allows you to design memorable experiences and bring unique event concepts to life. Relationship Building – You develop strong connections with clients, sponsors, vendors, and stakeholders. Project Management Experience – Managing budgets, timelines, contracts, and logistics strengthens valuable project management skills. Career Growth Potential – Experience in senior event management can lead to positions such as Event Manager, Director of Events, or Operations Director.

Cons

Heavy workload during peak seasons – Certain times of the year may involve coordinating several events simultaneously. Difficulty maintaining work-life balance – The unpredictable nature of events can make personal scheduling challenging.

3.0
Jun 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Strong Brand: Pensions & Investments remains a highly respected and trusted name in institutional financial media.Valuable Data: The underlying proprietary data and research products are high-quality and genuinely sought after by major institutions. Colleagues: The day-to-day editorial and sales teams are incredibly dedicated professionals who care about the product.

Cons

Short-Sighted Restructuring: In late 2025, management aggressively cut experienced, human-led enterprise sales and account management teams in a bid to force a "digital transformation" and pivot to AI/automation. Complete Operational Breakdown: The reality of this pivot is a mess. By replacing dedicated human contact points with generic support inboxes and broken "self-service" portals, high-value corporate clients are being completely ignored. Systemic Carelessness: Months after the layoffs, former employees are still receiving voicemails from furious institutional clients who cannot get a hold of anyone at the company. CRM records and phone lines were left unmanaged and orphaned. Flawed Strategy: Management optimized for internal cost-cutting without considering client retention. Enterprise clients pay premium prices for white-glove service, not a black-hole automated ticket queue.

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