Pros
For a fully remote company with employees all over the world, Stem strives to be a warm and welcoming place for everyone. We've experienced a lot of growth in 2022 and though change inevitably comes with growing pains, I feel that everyone I work with has the best intentions and we have a culture that values a learning mindset. Regular retros, all-hands, 1:1s, design reviews, quarterly goal setting, etc. help drive team alignment and I think that's key for any company, but especially a startup of Stem's size. The leadership at Stem is transparent about our mission and priorities, and I have a clear idea of how I directly impact our path to success. I've had the opportunity to design a ton of new features and 2 brand new products from scratch -- I don't take that learning opportunity for granted. I've always felt like I have the autonomy and trust to do what's right for myself and my team, and I feel supported along the way. Questions are always encouraged. Most importantly, Stem is striving to solve an undeniable problem in the music industry and everyone at Stem cares -- that's evident in the work ethic and grit that I see from my peers day by day. You can't beat working in music. Our users are amazing, the complexities are fascinating, and you are never bored. It's a fun place to roll up your sleeves, get exposed to all areas of the business, experiment and learn quick.
Cons
This is not a workplace where you can put on your blinders and just do what you're told. You have to pay attention, stay engaged, and think critically because it's a fast-paced environment and it could be easy to feel out of the loop. There's a lot of work to do, so you have to be comfortable upholding life/work balance. The folks at Stem respect boundaries, but it's a slippery slope if you aren't used to maintaining that for yourself. There isn't a dedicated design team (yet), so I've had to look outside of Stem for mentorship and learning within my craft and discipline. Not necessarily a "con", but just something to consider.