Howl Reviews

4.1

74% would recommend to a friend

(34 total reviews)

Li Haslett Chen

76% approve of CEO

71% positive business outlook

Howl has an employee rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars, based on 34 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The Howl employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Information Technology industry (3.9 stars).

Reviews by job title

34 reviews
5.0
3 Aug 2023

Mission-driven startup that actually values diversity

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Diversity truly matters at Howl - from the very top there's female, LGBTQIA, and BIPOC representation across the leadership team and throughout the company on every team and at every level. Active conversations about neurodiversity, invisible disabilities, etc. Collaborative work style -- instead of getting "sign off" and "approval" leadership genuinely collaborates, helps solve problems and work on solutions together. Working in the Creator economy for a company that actually cares about helping Creators grow their businesses is really inspiring and grounding. We've also started hiring Creators to work at Howl which is a constant reminder of the "why."

Cons

As a remote-first company, there's a heavy emphasis on written communication and approaching work with clear intentionality and preparation. This levels the playing field for introverts and is great for many but some it's not for everyone. Howl has a high performance culture and expects a high standard -- again, great for many but not for everyone.

1.0
4 Aug 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The people shoveling for the disillusioned management were a treat to work with

Cons

My time here left me deeply disillusioned by the glaring gap between its management's perception of reality and the toxic environment they have cultivated. The dismissals were handled with a callousness that only highlighted the management's detachment from the workforce. It was a stark reminder that the well-being of hardworking individuals was an afterthought, easily sacrificed in the name of corporate profit margins. The notification process was akin to a cold, automated message, leaving us feeling like disposable pawns in their strategic chess game. Throughout my tenure at the company, the upper management's delusion became increasingly apparent. Decisions seemed to be made in an alternate reality, devoid of any connection to the daily struggles faced by employees. Project priorities shifted at a moment's notice, often without rationale or context, leading to a constant state of confusion and wasted effort. It was painfully evident that our expertise and insights were unimportant to them. Communication, or the lack thereof, exemplified the toxic atmosphere perpetuated by the management. Information was tightly controlled, and honest dialogue was a rare luxury. Town hall meetings were a grim exercise in public relations, a chance for the management to pat themselves on the back while evading uncomfortable questions and concerns. This left employees feeling unheard, undervalued, and ultimately disposable. The aftermath of the layoffs serves as a testament to the poisonous nature of the management's leadership. Their hollow promises of support during this turbulent time only reinforced the idea that we were mere cogs in their profit-driven machine. The toxicity that emanated from their actions has cast a long shadow over both those who lost their jobs and those who remain. The morale of the survivors has plummeted, and the residual bitterness and mistrust have created a hostile work environment that will be difficult to overcome. In conclusion, the recent layoffs have unveiled a disturbing portrayal of management's delusion and toxicity. The callousness with which they treated their employees, combined with a steadfast refusal to acknowledge their shortcomings, has revealed a leadership that is dangerously out of touch with reality. Their willingness to sacrifice employee well-being for their own gain has sown the seeds of discontent and disillusionment, leaving a scar that will linger long after the layoffs have faded from memory. It is my sincere hope that prospective employees will take heed of this cautionary tale and steer clear of this toxic quagmire masquerading as a tech company.

2.0
7 Aug 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexible Fridays, smart people at the lower levels. A lot of genuinely great interactions with people cross team/cross function.

Cons

Upper management is constantly mircomanaging minor details of the product. Anyone who says no (in any small way) to leadership is quickly fired or let go, meaning that there is constant turnover with product team. Extremely vertical structure for such a small company, and there is rarely clear agreement on projects leading to many direction changes. Engineering leadership likes to talk the talk without walking the walk. Principles of security and correctness of code get put by the wayside for fast feature pushes, and engineering leadership doesn't push back on this. Engineering teams focused on security and maintenance almost entirely laid off.

Viewing 1 - 3 of 34 Reviews

Glassdoor has 35 Howl reviews submitted anonymously by Howl employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Howl is right for you.