Please don't be fooled into thinking that the CMO leaving will make Optiv a good place to work. The CMO was only part of the problem. The marketing department as a whole is dysfunctional and operates within a culture of secrecy and fear that the leaders have not only created but cultivated. The marketing department heads act like a bunch of mean girls who tell you you're a rockstar to your face but the moment you disagree or have a differing opinion, you're deemed negative. Take note, current employees who believe you're in good graces with your managers! In my experience, having a voice, having new ideas, and challenging the status quo professionally is considered negative by this team. It seems they simply want Yes Men who stay in the box they've defined for you, despite the many talents you had hoped to share. Not sure if the mean girl attitude stems from insecurity or if someone told these women that to get ahead in business they have to be cagey, calculating, and manipulative. But it's not working. Anyone with anything between their ears picked up on the subversive nature right away and saw through the fake smiles and insecurity -- hence the HUGE turnover within the marketing department in the last several months. There's no opportunity for growth, period. Innovation, creativity, and thinking differently are not welcome at Optiv.
Interests and passions were actively discouraged. "Stay in your own lane" was a common phrase. Feedback and praise given from high-profile executives got no acknowledgement when shared. Way to empower your team! One manager often didn't show up to her own staff meetings and didn't respond to her team when they reached out. Judging from the insecurity oozed and the horrid bedside manner, I'm guessing other managers never managed people before. Campaigns never launched on time and part of the reason why is that this team spent its time documenting the actions of others instead of doing the work at hand. If this team didn't like you, you knew. You either saw beyond the insincerity or you saw by the lack of poker face and the way your colleagues were treated. Intelligent, loyal, creative people were let go and the perception is that it's because they asked questions and spoke truth to power. It's a demoralizing place to work when tattling on your colleagues and playing the blame game is the priority.
My advice to job seekers: Don’t even consider working here. But if you get the chance to play poker with the marketing “leaders,” do it. You’ll know right away what cards they’re holding.
