Pros
soona was an unpredictable career rollercoaster. While being a startup offered some opportunities for growth and learning, the overall experience was chaotic and unstable. I did meet some great people, clients, & connections in my field.
Cons
This company’s claims of having an "amazing culture" are completely misleading. Almost every employee I knew has been treated poorly by soona. Quite literally, soona ruined many people's lives. The leadership team displayed a concerning level of sexism that made me feel extremely uncomfortable? They often crossed boundaries by asking inappropriate questions about personal lives and later using that information against employees. Leadership blatantly played favorites. Despite promising unlimited PTO, they frequently denied requests, adding to the already toxic environment. On top of that, we were often asked to work overtime without any additional compensation, under the assumption that we all cared as much about hitting revenue targets as they did (?)—when in reality, they were the only ones who benefitted from it. The so-called "bonus" money offered was a sick joke, (sometimes $100) LOL. Hardly enough to justify the extra hours and stress we endured. The benefits package was equally disappointing—most of the benefits were heavily taxed without our knowledge :).... making them practically pointless and offering little real value. Additionally, there was an unrealistic expectation for employees to perform tasks far beyond their job descriptions with a smile on your face. Any instance of standing up for yourself-- you can expect to have a target on your back. HR was also untrustworthy and failed to maintain confidentiality, making personal matters public. This lack of respect, combined with the overall lack of leadership qualifications, caused unhappiness across the board among so many employees. Furthermore, soona’s business model is just plain stupid as it undervalues the quality of work provided, ultimately compromising both the employees and the clients. All in all, I experienced numerous instances where I was taken advantage of and was micromanaged to an inappropriate extent. Since leaving soona, my quality of life has improved a substantial amount, and I recognize the significant negative impact the company had on my mental health.