Sadly the mismanagement of this business continues - avoid - Anonymous employee Insider Employee Review

1.0
Aug 20, 2020
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

brilliant, talented people and respected brands - trusted editorially

Cons

Dictatorship from owner/Chairwomen is unrelenting and stifles any prospect of innovation or modernisation despite rarely managing to prise a profit from this brilliant business she still believes no one can do it better?? sheer arrogance and blindness to the obvious opportunities that everyone else can see. Claims she will retire one day but in reality has nothing else going on and would be lost without her ' empire' and the ability to belittle her subjects at every turn. The brands are v well respected in their markets - editorially brilliant and the round-table events and virtual events now taking place are tremendous. The difficulty all stems from an autocratic leadership style from Marlen Roberts, a refusal to accept change ( e.g they don't allow mobile phones - yes that's true ) and a distrust of some of their most loyal and hardworking people ( everyone is out to skim or somehow do the company down? that's the belief ) their is also an inherent distrust of diversity which is evident from a look at those who work there. The MD came in and had great ideas and we thought he could really change the culture of the place but we should have known better - beaten to surrender by the one who must be obeyed and finally left presumable to do anything rather than go hand to hand with Ms Roberts. the 5 star reviews on here are absolutely planted to try and iron out the terrible reputation which means they can't hire the best people any more as people know to avoid - even my recruiter advised me to stay clear

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Insider Response
2y
thank you - New Owners have now taken the reigns as you describe and Insider is on an exciting journey

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