Pros
PR focus - because the company was family-owned and independent from the ad agency monoliths, PR was front and centre of everything that happened. That meant is wasn't an afterthought. It was a great place to "learn the trade". Early Adopter - Edelman understood digital and convergence very early on and was a pioneering company. It was sneered at by bigger global competitors but it showed foresight and reaping the benefits of today.
Cons
Family ownership - as above it can have advantages, but also disadvantages. The company had a "US first, Rest of World second" mentality. Major decisions were made in the US and filtered through. Some global memos were cringeworthy and did not take cognisance of local cultures or values. Working in a European office felt like you were working in a franchise rather than part of a global team. Also, European executive positions moved like a carousel, leaders never seemed to stay long. Career progression - This was a maze, without clarity. Very political and who you cosied up to. You had to push for promotion.