Great Org, Terrible Job - Program Manager Lesbians Who Tech Employee Review

If you're excited to learn a ton, want to solve problems you've never seen solved before, are eager to work hard alongside passionate people and ultimately help elevate an incredible community, then Lesbians Who Tech & Allies will be a game changer in your career. Each member of the team makes a true impact on everything Lesbians Who Tech does, whether that's producing world class events, sending underrepresented techies to coding bootcamps through the scholarship program, or elevating leaders through The Queer 50 and many others. Your opinion and creative ideas are welcomed and encouraged and often brought to life by you and your colleagues personally. The small size of the team and event cycles mean that every day is different. There is no autopilot internally; the team is constantly trying to do better, provide more for our community and partners, and level up. I've worked harder and put more of myself into the work here than I ever have before and I have gotten back everything I've put in and more. I was also given the time off I needed to do my best work. Leadership not only agreed to extended time off requests, but set up time to ask me questions and try to understand more about what I needed in that moment and we problem solved together.

This type of a company is not for everyone. Lesbians Who Tech & Allies sits at the intersection of Events, Tech, and Diversity & Inclusion. All three spaces are very fast paced, complicated, always evolving, nuanced, and demand a level of curiosity, empathy, self awareness, hard work and heart. The team here is truly trying to build something amazing but there are a lot of obstacles. The reason why Lesbians Who Tech & Allies is so beloved by the community they serve is because there is really truly nothing else out there like the spaces/events they produce; and the reason for that is because building them is really hard. This means everyone on the team works really hard, has a scrappy approach, tries something new, fails and then tries something else, and sometimes work long hours or weekends. If you are looking for a 9-5 job where when you sign off at night you don't give work another thought, each day feels similar, and you can dictate how you spend most of your time - then this job is not for you.

Gained Experience: Despite the challenges, you may gain some useful skills or experience to add to your resume. Networking Opportunities: If you're lucky, you might connect with other professionals who could help with future job opportunities. Exposure to High-Pressure Situations: Working under such pressure can toughen you up and prepare you for handling difficult situations elsewhere.

Unethical Business Practices: The company often engages in questionable or unethical business practices, such as misleading clients, cutting corners at the expense of safety or quality, or pressuring employees to act unethically. This not only damages the company's reputation but also puts employees in uncomfortable and morally compromising situations. Toxic Work Culture: The environment is filled with negativity, poor communication, and a lack of appreciation for employees. Abnormal Working Hours: Expect to work irregular and long hours, often without proper compensation or consideration for work-life balance. Disrespectful Leadership: The owner and management often treat employees with disrespect and show little care for their well-being. Unreasonable Expectations: The tasks and workload are excessive, with unclear expectations and inadequate resources provided to succeed. Low Compensation: Wages are far below industry standards, and there is little to no opportunity for financial growth, raises, or bonuses. High Turnover: Many employees leave quickly due to the toxic environment, leading to constant staffing shortages and extra stress on remaining staff. Lack of Career Growth: Opportunities for advancement or development are scarce, and management shows little interest in nurturing employees' potential.