Top tier creative output - werkgeversreview Paid Media Manager bij ASTUDIO

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To be honest, nothing positive at all!!!

My experience at ASTUDIO was one of the worst experiences of my professional career. The agency presents itself as one of the leading creative agencies in the UAE, but my experience behind the scenes was very different from the image it projects publicly. After dedicating more than a year to the company, I left feeling exhausted, undervalued, and deeply disappointed. To this day, I still feel the impact that experience had on my wellbeing. The work culture was extremely demanding, with an expectation that employees should always be available. It often felt like work-life balance did not exist. No matter how much effort, commitment, or extra hours employees invested, appreciation was rare. Instead, pressure and criticism seemed to be the standard approach. One of the biggest concerns was the leadership culture. In my opinion, employees were not treated with the respect and professionalism they deserved. Many talented people joined the company with enthusiasm only to eventually leave. The turnover rate was incredibly high during my time there, and I believe there are underlying reasons why so many employees chose to resign. I also witnessed internal politics that I felt negatively impacted employees and the agency as a whole. In my experience, information about employees was not always communicated fairly or accurately to senior leadership. I often felt that some talented employees were judged based on narratives rather than their actual performance and contributions. This created a culture where merit did not always seem to be the deciding factor. From a client perspective, I personally observed situations where clients paid premium agency fees, yet the resources and effort allocated to certain projects did not always appear to reflect the level of investment being made. This raised concerns for me about value delivery and long-term client satisfaction. I also noticed growing frustration from clients throughout my time there. While every agency faces challenges, it often felt as though concerns were not being addressed effectively. The company appeared to struggle with both talent retention and client retention. The most unfortunate part is that there were genuinely hardworking and talented individuals within the company. However, many of them eventually left because they felt unheard, restricted, or undervalued. Creative professionals thrive when they are trusted and empowered. Unfortunately, that was not the environment I experienced. Even after leaving, the impact of the experience stayed with me. It affected my confidence, my wellbeing, and my perception of what a healthy workplace should look like. I encourage anyone considering joining the company to speak with both current and former employees before making a decision. Hearing different perspectives may provide a more complete understanding of the work environment.