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Not a Supportive or Inclusive Work Environment - Special Events Manager Crain Communications Employee Review

1.0
18 Feb 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There are no pros at working at this place

Cons

Working at Crain’s Chicago Business was a disappointing experience due to poor management, lack of structure, and a toxic work culture. There was little to no onboarding, making it difficult to get up to speed or feel supported in the role. Leadership, particularly the acting Director of Events, was ineffective—prioritizing personal interests over team success, playing favorites, and exhibiting discriminatory behavior. Collaboration was minimal, and there was a clear lack of leadership, management skills, and accountability. Diversity and inclusion are severely lacking, especially in leadership roles. It’s no surprise that the Events Manager position has remained vacant for over a year—talented professionals see the red flags and move on. If you’re looking for a workplace that values teamwork, growth, and equity, this is not the place.

Explore other reviews about Crain Communications

5.0
4 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Leadership Opportunities – You often lead event planning teams, coordinate vendors, and oversee event execution from start to finish. Creative Expression – The role allows you to design memorable experiences and bring unique event concepts to life. Relationship Building – You develop strong connections with clients, sponsors, vendors, and stakeholders. Project Management Experience – Managing budgets, timelines, contracts, and logistics strengthens valuable project management skills. Career Growth Potential – Experience in senior event management can lead to positions such as Event Manager, Director of Events, or Operations Director.

Cons

Heavy workload during peak seasons – Certain times of the year may involve coordinating several events simultaneously. Difficulty maintaining work-life balance – The unpredictable nature of events can make personal scheduling challenging.

3.0
22 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Strong Brand: Pensions & Investments remains a highly respected and trusted name in institutional financial media.Valuable Data: The underlying proprietary data and research products are high-quality and genuinely sought after by major institutions. Colleagues: The day-to-day editorial and sales teams are incredibly dedicated professionals who care about the product.

Cons

Short-Sighted Restructuring: In late 2025, management aggressively cut experienced, human-led enterprise sales and account management teams in a bid to force a "digital transformation" and pivot to AI/automation. Complete Operational Breakdown: The reality of this pivot is a mess. By replacing dedicated human contact points with generic support inboxes and broken "self-service" portals, high-value corporate clients are being completely ignored. Systemic Carelessness: Months after the layoffs, former employees are still receiving voicemails from furious institutional clients who cannot get a hold of anyone at the company. CRM records and phone lines were left unmanaged and orphaned. Flawed Strategy: Management optimized for internal cost-cutting without considering client retention. Enterprise clients pay premium prices for white-glove service, not a black-hole automated ticket queue.

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