|
private:pixelspoke
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1153343
|
Jul 23rd, 2019 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
PixelSpoke
|
Strategist
|
Portland, OR
|
|
Best place I've worked, hands down
|
|
With both its clients and employees, PixelSpoke does business the way business should be done. The team here is not only incredibly smart and committed, but they are a caring group of people who don't gossip or backstab. This can in part be attributed to our highly selective and intentional hiring process and in part to our carefully cultivated culture, which holds each of us actively accountable to our six core values. Our values are not just posted somewhere in a break room; rather, we reference and live them every day. PixelSpoke understands that employees have lives outside of work and that work-life balance is not just a "nice to have" but absolutely essential to our happiness, morale, and productivity. We are constantly reevaluating processes to make them better and all feel that we have a stake in the future of the company. The CEO leads with authenticity and without ego, and he sets that tone for the rest of us. I'm 18 years into my career and this is by far the best place I've worked.
|
As a B Corp, we have an intentional social impact focus, but the nature of our daily work feels one step removed. Having previously worked in nonprofits, I miss feeling directly connected to a cause.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
|
|
1.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
|
1153343
|
Open
|
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
PixelSpoke
|
Industrials
|
Support Services
|
|
private:pixelspoke
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1153343
|
Nov 11th, 2018 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
PixelSpoke
|
|
|
|
I knew I had to leave PixelSpoke
|
|
The option to work from home is nice. The company follows a consistent website redesign process so it's fairly simple to learn how to do things the "PixelSpoke way" - rinse and repeat sort of set-up. Employees work hard and the company is fair to the clients they serve.
|
On paper, PixelSpoke is great. It's a marketing agency in the heart of downtown Portland with a purpose-driven CEO and a small team. So when I began to feel anxious and dread going into work, I didn't understand what was wrong. However, the latently abusive work environment began to become more and more obvious as time went on. With it being a small company, the individual personalities of the team end up driving the company culture. Inappropriate emails when deadlines/expectations are not met, uncomfortable stares when a meeting doesn't go according to plan, and a micro-managed work style are among the things I disliked the most about working at PixelSpoke. In addition, the work is often boring and repetitive. Creative projects are rare, and unless you are under budget, good luck enjoying the fun projects anyways! Every second of the day is clocked and those that spend the least time on billable work create the benchmarks for how much time should be spent on what. If you mention something is wrong, it will usually be turned around so that you feel like you're at fault for not "enjoying the journey." The truth is, once I picked up on the subtle ways in which PixelSpoke stifled creativity, allowed certain employees to pick on others, and emphasized process over people... I knew I had to leave.
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
|
|
7.0
|
1.0
|
3.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
1.0
|
|
1153343
|
Open
|
There should be no tolerance for calling someone out or shutting down new ideas in a meeting. It seems as though process is prioritized above people, and those that don't see things the same way as the core PixelSpoke employees (those that have been there 3-5+ years) are often made to feel like they can't contribute in a group setting without being called out. I think that the "managers" should attend management trainings (outside of PixelSpoke) to learn how to manage people. Someone isn't automatically a good manager because they have done the job the longest - managers inspire, promote, and encourage their team for the betterment of the company. That, unfortunately, is something most of the decision makers/managers at PixelSpoke struggle to do.
|
0.0
|
[{"countHelpful": 0, "languageId": "eng", "userJobTitle": "CEO and co-founder", "__typename": "EmployerResponse", "originalLanguageId": null, "id": 1902367, "responseDateTime": "2018-12-04T15:59:57.133", "translationMethod": null, "response": "Thank you for your heartfelt and honest feedback. I appreciate your perspective, and it makes me sad to hear that the environment felt abusive and negative to you. Creating a safe and supportive space is something that I and our team are actively working to do. Starting in summer of this year, we redefined our value of Authenticity to clearly state that \u201cWe are prepared to be vulnerable, open, and honest with each other as we create a gossip- and politics-free environment of high mutual trust.\u201d We have been creating opportunities to live the Authenticity value through quarterly team dinners and monthly margarita Mondays where team members can socialize and build trust, a foundational building block of healthy conflict. \n\nWe also implemented the Entrepreneurial Operating System, which gives team members a structured way to address issues we\u2019re experiencing at the company in a safe, open, and honest space. Our issues list for our management team alone has fluctuated between 30 and 100 issues, and every team has an issues list where they are encouraged to report things that are not working. If a team member feels an interpersonal issue is too delicate to raise on the issues list, we have weekly check-ins and quarterly conversations between each team member and their supervisor to address them \u2014 though we encourage our team to work on issues with the people who are involved and provide coaching on how to do so as needed. We wholeheartedly agree that shutting down new ideas in meetings is unacceptable, and I have always been passionate about a culture where the best ideas win, not the biggest personalities. I and others have been pressing ourselves outside of our comfort zone as a way to model healthy conflict for the rest of the team, in hopes that our teammates will be comfortable to address their issues with us. There is, of course, always more to do, and we will keep working at it.\n\nI understand that it was not the correct venue for your creative pursuits \u2014 it is definitely a job where budgets, time tracking, and thorough process are critical to us being able to deliver high quality work to our clients. One of the most dangerous things about promoting a culture, job or business is creating the impression that it is \u201cperfect\u201d or \u201cunique.\u201d We are far from either of those, and our constant awareness of our imperfections is the only way to keep building something special. I hope that you have found a better fit in your new situation for your own happiness and fulfillment. \n\nSincerely,\nCameron\nCEO and co-founder", "responseOriginal": null, "countNotHelpful": 0}]
|
|
No
|
No
|
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
PixelSpoke
|
Industrials
|
Support Services
|
|
private:pixelspoke
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1153343
|
Oct 17th, 2018 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
PixelSpoke
|
|
|
|
Great company with committed employees
|
|
Excellent team of colleagues with a strong commitment to clients and fellow employees. Everyone has high expectations for quality work, and also strives for good work/life balance.
|
This is a small organization, and the commitment and camaraderie might not be for everyone.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
|
|
1.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
|
1153343
|
Open
|
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
9.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
PixelSpoke
|
Industrials
|
Support Services
|
|
private:pixelspoke
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1153343
|
Oct 6th, 2018 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
PixelSpoke
|
|
|
|
The magic has been replaced by process
|
|
Some of the best people I've ever met work or have worked here. It's a solid company where you can make a decent wage and not work crazy hours. You work with good clients, not big corporations or anything. Good benefits.
|
I wrote one of the earlier reviews when we were encouraged by management to write them. I was happy enough to write it then because it really did seem like a uniquely positive and supportive workplace, but things started going downhill in the last couple years and now it's just average or below.
Team members started being held accountable for things they had no control over, teams were put in competition against each other, and the CEO reacted to his stress with extreme micromanagement. The turnover rate went from pretty much 0% to over 30% in just a couple years.
There is no room for creativity in any role at PixelSpoke. It is a web development shop, not a creative agency. If you're not into every task of your day having a random process to follow, it's not for you.
Just go into this one knowing it's not what it's presented as. It definitely won't be the worst place you work, but the hype about the culture and uniqueness of it is just hype.
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
|
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
4.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
4.0
|
1.0
|
|
1153343
|
Open
|
Gotta let people be anonymous if you want honest employee feedback — the CEO of a company can't expect employees to be honest with him about their happiness at work when he controls their livelihood. And culture fit being something you "just feel" is a discrimination lawsuit waiting to happen.
|
0.0
|
[{"countHelpful": 0, "languageId": "eng", "userJobTitle": "CEO and co-founder", "__typename": "EmployerResponse", "originalLanguageId": null, "id": 1902361, "responseDateTime": "2018-12-04T15:54:21.853", "translationMethod": null, "response": "Thank you for your open and honest feedback, and my apologies for a delayed response. I recognize that, as we have continued to grow as a company in the last few years our organizational structure, culture, and processes have been shifting. We\u2019ve spent a lot of time since spring of this year working to clarify our org structure so that the right team members are accountable for the right tasks. This work has also led us to individual and cross-functional team meetings that are helping us to break down the silos that we had formed unintentionally. I hope you\u2019re starting to see the fruit of those efforts as a current employee.\n\nYou are correct that we are believers in the importance of process here, and I believe that it is our process that frees us to be creative in the areas that will make the most impact for our clients. It is our checklists, workflows, and attention to budgets that ensure we\u2019re attending to the important details, so we and our clients can focus on making those areas of client delight really shine \u2014 be they the design of a particular web page, animations in an annual report, our client strategy decks, or something else. This also ensures the health of the company and our ability to continue to offer competitive wages and benefits. Particularly given our primary client base is credit unions, which are heavily regulated entities, attending to the details is important.\n\nI understand your perspective about the turnover in the last year. It has been a bit higher, and I have also seen over the years that people will naturally come and go in waves as they move onto the next chapter in their life. While we seek to keep team retention high by continuously focusing on our culture, the team\u2019s work satisfaction, our compensation approach, and our benefits package, sometimes an employee making a professional change can be the healthiest for everyone. At the end of the day, life is too short to be in a job that does not fulfill you. This is why we work so hard at our Journeys of Transformation and other feedback efforts with our team.\n\nAnonymous feedback is a really difficult topic. I have read a fair bit about this topic trying to wrap my head around it. It can be a good way to gather feedback that otherwise is not encouraged, but it can also encourage a culture of gossip and backstabbing, and I believe that safety is a two-way street where everyone should have the right to face their accuser. We have worked hard to create a culture where people have training and support to have authentic and open conversations about the difficulties they face, and I also have seen this to be one of the most difficult skills to align teams around because we all have such diverse backgrounds and perspectives on conflict \u2014 it is not an easy journey, and I suspect it never will be. This provides additional motivation to keep working on this very important skill. If you\u2019re open to it, I\u2019d appreciate the chance to talk with you more about how we can continue to get better.\n \nSincerely,\nCameron\nCEO and co-founder", "responseOriginal": null, "countNotHelpful": 0}]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
PixelSpoke
|
Industrials
|
Support Services
|
|
private:pixelspoke
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1153343
|
Apr 27th, 2017 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
PixelSpoke
|
Freelance Graphic Designer
|
|
|
A company that walks their talk
|
|
What a joy it is to work with this organized, super-friendly, professional, and fun-loving team. I can't decide what I love more about PixelSpoke: The smart, genuine people that work there, or the fact that they are a proud B-Corp and stand for something good in this world.
|
There are not many companies like PixelSpoke in the world!
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
|
|
1.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
|
1153343
|
Open
|
Keep doin' what your doin'.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
CONTRACT
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
PixelSpoke
|
Industrials
|
Support Services
|
|
private:pixelspoke
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1153343
|
Mar 30th, 2017 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
PixelSpoke
|
Information Architect
|
Portland, OR
|
|
Nicest agency I've ever worked with
|
|
The team at Pixelspoke is full of smart, dedicated, truly nice people who are a real pleasure to work with. I've never experienced any drama or frustration with the team, clients or projects in the nearly three years I've been working with them; rather I always feel respected, appreciated and listened to. Cameron, the owner, has built the company to reflect a set of progressive, upstanding values, and the team at Pixelspoke clearly cares about the work they do.
|
It's not a super hip "Portland" agency/tech company with a huge built-out industrial space, kegs of beer, ping pong table, etc. This isn't a con for me, personally, (I love that about Pixelspoke!) but it may not fit the bill for people who want to work in a big agency with Nike-type clients and hip fashion employees who all wear black. :)
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
|
|
1.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
|
1153343
|
Open
|
Keep being awesome!
|
0.0
|
[]
|
FREELANCE
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
PixelSpoke
|
Industrials
|
Support Services
|
|
private:pixelspoke
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1153343
|
Mar 13th, 2017 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
PixelSpoke
|
Developer
|
Portland, OR
|
|
Inspiring Group
|
|
I was one of the first employees at PixelSpoke, and it taught me that truly beautiful things are possible in a work space. It really felt like a family or group of friends, with just the right amount of fun, support, encouragement and structure.
I started out working as a programmer and as my career goals started to change, Cameron (CEO) helped me transition into a sales and accounts role. This transition was one of the best things for my career, and the company's patience and desire to help me succeed was incredibly unique. I've never worked anywhere that cared so much about each individual's success and life balance.
Plus, everyone was awesomely funny, sarcastic and witty. This is VERY important to me in a workplace.
|
Not much negative I could really say.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
|
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
|
1153343
|
Open
|
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
4.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
PixelSpoke
|
Industrials
|
Support Services
|
|
private:pixelspoke
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1153343
|
Feb 12th, 2016 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
PixelSpoke
|
|
Portland, OR
|
|
I can't speak highly enough of this of place
|
|
I have so many good things to say about PixelSpoke it's hard to know where to start. It's been awesome to find a place that truly lives the company values and integrates them into work culture. We give kudos at the beginning of each week around the company values and you'll hear them brought up on a regular basis. It's been awesome to come into a team of A-players. All of my colleagues have traits that I admire. We are all empowered by management to make decisions and recommendations that will help the company grow and improve. The company also understands the importance of having a life outside of work, and we all make efforts to support each other during busy times so that we still get to go home at the end of the day at a reasonable time. It's also awesome to be in a place where open book management is embraced.
|
By virtue of being a small agency, we don't always have immediate access to the expensive tools that larger agencies do.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
|
|
1.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
|
1153343
|
Open
|
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
1.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
PixelSpoke
|
Industrials
|
Support Services
|
|
private:pixelspoke
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1153343
|
Feb 11th, 2016 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
PixelSpoke
|
Account Manager
|
Portland, OR
|
|
My friends are jealous of my workplace...
|
|
I've been working here many years and love the culture. The owner has modeled an attitude of "solutions not blame" so that if something goes wrong, no one is attacked.I love that as a small team we are nimble and everyone is empowered to propose and institute a company-wide improvement at any point. All employees are greatly trusted by leadership and everyone rises to the occasion by caring deeply about doing good work and not letting each other down. We really care deeply about doing the right kind of work for our clients, not work for work's sake.
This is not a "work hard play hard" kind of agency where you'd be expected to work evenings and weekends all the time on high pressure deadlines and then drink a ton and waste hours of personal time around a foosball table the next day. This is more like a "work smartly, enjoy work, help each other be balanced" sort of place. For example, if someone catches that I've been in the office over 10 hours some day, they're likely to say "go home already!" or "is there something I can take off your plate?" I'm so grateful for such a smart, respectful, enjoyable bunch of colleagues.
Also, we get to work with interesting businesses and organizations who also treat us well (we aren't asked to work with abusive clients like some agency employees are).
|
We are a small team so sometimes I crave more diversity of opinions and personalities and more mentorship opportunities and growth options.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
|
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
4.0
|
5.0
|
|
1153343
|
Open
|
|
0.0
|
[{"countHelpful": 0, "languageId": "eng", "userJobTitle": "Office Manager", "__typename": "EmployerResponse", "originalLanguageId": null, "id": 1280617, "responseDateTime": "2017-06-06T09:21:42.483", "translationMethod": null, "response": "Thank you for the feedback! We're so grateful to have a team aligned around the same values and who keep our culture strong. As we work on our B Corp goals, watch for more diversity and mentorship opportunities!", "responseOriginal": null, "countNotHelpful": 0}]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
6.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
PixelSpoke
|
Industrials
|
Support Services
|
|
private:pixelspoke
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=1153343
|
Jan 15th, 2016 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
PixelSpoke
|
|
|
|
Incredible Culture with the Business Sense to Back It Up
|
|
PixelSpoke is the company I'd have dreamed of working for if I could have even imagined it (which I know sounds cheesy, but is still true).
1. It's a certified B-Corporation committed to using business as a force for good, and we work with a lot of similar companies.
2. Cameron, the CEO, is deeply invested in each team member and his/her progress and development. He helps each person create a "Journey of Transformation," and puts real effort into helping us achieve both career AND personal goals.
3. The people here are the best I've worked with. Everyone is not only highly talented, but they work together, support each other, and are totally kick-you-know-what.
I know, I know. Sounds fake and paid for. It's not. All my friends are tired of hearing about how much I love my job.
|
umm... that I didn't find it sooner?
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
|
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
|
1153343
|
Open
|
Rock on.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
Apr 1st, 2021 10:01PM
|
PixelSpoke
|
Industrials
|
Support Services
|