Meaningful mission undermined by poor internal culture
Pros
SEO’s mission is meaningful, and the work can feel purpose-driven, especially if you care about education, access, and supporting students from historically excluded communities. There are people across the organization who genuinely care about the students and programs. I appreciated the opportunity to contribute creative ideas, marketing strategy, and communications work in support of a larger mission.
Cons
My experience was ultimately disappointing because the internal culture did not always reflect the care and intentionality of the external mission. Communication was often unclear, priorities shifted quickly, and decision-making sometimes felt inconsistent or disconnected from the day-to-day work being asked of staff. There was also frequent leadership turnover within the same year, which created instability and made it difficult to feel grounded in the direction of the organization. At times, onboarding, manager support, and internal processes felt underdeveloped for the pace and expectations of the work. I also experienced a moment at a work-related event where my manager asked about my sexuality, which felt inappropriate and uncomfortable. That experience contributed to my feeling that stronger management training and clearer professional boundaries are needed.
