Pros
Work was challenging and rewarding. The event is unique and will always be fine on an external standpoint since attendees will always have an interest to attend and see what happens.
Cons
From an internal standpoint though, it is not as successful. Turnover is higher than most places employees have had positions at. Management has practices that display an interest in being bosses rather than leaders. Instead of being a leader and listening to employees, the main objective seems to be to “hold the line” with no noticeable interest in bettering positive company culture. Management is thin skinned and when someone provides crucial feedback, they let their feelings get in the way of facts and become defensive. Executives’ poor habits and management styles tend to trickle down and even teams reporting directly to executives adopt an entitled manner that is detrimental for employees feeling as though they cannot ask for support. Anime Expo has bee a pillar in the industry for decades. Because of this, it is a magnet to attract top tier professionals. However, those with the most event knowledge and experience are driven away by the company culture. Those who stay either have not known anything but this organization and/or are comfortable being passive and not advocating for improvement. Processes are archaic and instead of actively pursuing modern methods that streamline and maximize results, time is wasted on inefficient processes. Employees’ time is undervalued and going above and beyond is rarely appreciated. More often than not, efforts that create positive environments or results are seen as more of a threat than recognizing how the event truly benefits from it.