Toxic Culture Led By Narcissist - Director InnovateEDU Employee Review

1.0
9 Jul 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The staff members do their best to be helpful to new employees.

Cons

Be careful where you work! If you are considering working at InnovateEDU, it’s crucial to understand that you are choosing to join an organization with a toxic culture that is led by a narcissist. The CEO is exceptionally skilled at playing games and manipulating people. Beware! Narcissists can be incredibly charming and persuasive at the beginning. The CEO is an expert in creating an illusion that InnovateEDU is a perfect place to work-- it's not. Policies (detailed in a 100+ page employee handbook) are inequitable, employee mental health and well-being is not valued, and there is no flexibility with anything. For example, ALL employees (except the CEO) must clock in and clock out every day using an app, she requires a minimum 45-hour work-week and you'll work way more than that regularly, offers no flex time, and I kid you not, staff is regularly required to stay together in groups in (sketchy) AirBnBs when traveling, but the CEO stays in hotels. The CEO devalues employees through internal small-group and private criticism, manipulation, and control, all while maintaining an external facade of charm and concern for the team. Narcissists are skilled at gaslighting, and the CEO regularly uses this manipulative tactic to make employees doubt their reality. When working for a company led by a narcissist, the highs and lows can be extreme. They might alternate between periods of validation and periods of intense coldness and criticism. This cycle creates a rollercoaster of emotions, keeping staff off balance and focused on trying not to anger the CEO. She's a bully, so long as you're not the target, you can avoid her wrath. This dynamic is emotionally exhausting and, if you're not careful, can mess with your head. The CEO thrives on control and dominance, frequently disregarding employee needs and feelings. In summary, don't work here...The CEO is a power hungry narcissist who bullies, belittles, and berates employees. She is adept at playing games and manipulating people to secure her own needs and desires AND she has people outside the organization snowed and convinced that she is a kind and caring person-- she is not kind to employees. Choose wisely!

Explore other reviews about InnovateEDU

5.0
21 Jun 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great teammates and positive outlook; virtual work with high impact; people are really kind and help out when needed

Cons

Projects are siloed so sometimes hard to get to know people outside of your team

1.0
3 Mar 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You can build experiences and make connections that may be helpful to you later in your career. The people who work there tend to be smart and mission driven.

Cons

The CEO is a narcissist who treats her staff terribly. The organization has a crazy high turnover rate - check the staff pages using the internet Wayback Machine to see for yourself. Staff do not get reimbursed for legitimate travel expenses. The CEO claims to be all about social justice, but it is all performative. She talks a good game but it's all an act.

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