PMGers Who Left the Company Share Why They Came Back

Finding the perfect role in your career is a tall order and often requires a balancing act between your professional interests and ambitions, personal life, and preferred work style. For working parents, having a company that provides flexibility with executive leaders who lead with empathy and understanding may be the most important aspect to consider when looking for a new role. For young professionals searching for their first “real job” out of college, finding a sense of community (and friends) among peers while setting off on their unique career path can be the primary factor in their decision to accept one job offer versus another. Wherever you are along your career journey, hearing from others about their experiences can be a useful roadmap to understanding how to chart a career path that works best for you. 

PMG’s Young Professionals Employee Resource Group (ERG) recently heard from a panel of PMGers who shared why they came back to the company after leaving for another opportunity, often called “Boomerangs.” The panel was moderated by our Head of Culture and a part of PMG’s commitment to fostering meaningful conversations among the members of our ERGs. During the session, panelists shared what they experienced at other companies, what aspects of working at PMG they missed the most, and why they ultimately decided to return to PMG.

Time and time again throughout the session, panelists cited PMG’s unique culture, collaborative spirit, and the company’s focus on career development as the driving forces that led to their return. “I’ve always been drawn to the variety of brands you can impact at PMG and the organic growth opportunities that the company provides. I was also in a different phase of my life as a new mom of two,” said Meredith, a strategy director at PMG. “Being a mom is my first priority and I knew that I would have the support of our leadership team to balance the needs of my growing family and career.”

Parenthood support is a critical component of PMG’s culture. From generous parental leave, flexible schedules, and community support through social groups such as the Working Parents ERG, WeCollective, and the Diversity & Inclusion Group, we help people reach their full potential both at home and in the office.

“Finding a balance between motherhood and work has been extremely important to me,” said Ting Zheng, client strategy lead at PMG, who spoke on the panel of employees who returned to the company. “PMG really emphasizes, ‘how do we make it work for our new parents?’ Coming back and immediately reaping the benefits of that support for me and my family was a breath of fresh air. Everything from the policies to the safe space that’s been developed in the #moms-support-squad Slack channel is so important and shows me I can grow my family while growing my career.”

“I was spoiled by PMG,” said Jonathan Hunt, SEO supervisor at PMG, who spoke on the panel. “PMG invests in actual culture. It’s not just a list of events for employees to attend but a thoughtful approach to understanding how we relate to each other as coworkers and as people, then finding events and experiences that support that process and sense of community building.” 

A core component of PMG’s culture is our commitment to learning and development for all employees. While it’s not uncommon for the people and culture team to take center stage at the company all-hands to announce new benefits or a new initiative that helps employees prioritize career development and personal growth, learning opportunities at the company don’t happen in a silo. PMG’s events and experiences team, culture team, ERG leaders, and social groups each play a role in enabling a culture of continuous learning and development, whether it be through educational campaigns and conversations on Slack, speaker sessions over Zoom, or in-office training among peers. 

PMG’s ‘New Year, New You’ series, brought in experts on mental wellness, yoga, gut health, and more to answer employee questions and provide guidance on more ways to live a life that’s happier and healthier. Quarterly management training developed and workshopped in-house by a dedicated learning and development team, helps first-time managers and seasoned team leaders learn new management approaches and how to better lead a team. PMG’s business book club regularly selects a business or social psychology book to read together, then meets to discuss the key themes and concepts, and how they can be implemented in our own lives or at PMG. 

“One thing that differentiates PMG from other companies is manager involvement,” said Zheng during the panel. “No matter where you are in your career, having one-on-ones is important. I was so grateful when I returned to have that mentorship, management reinforcement, and encouragement, and I think a lot of people need it too. It may seem like such a simple meeting on the calendar to miss in the grand scheme of things, but I certainly took it for granted before I left PMG. “

When asked what they missed the most after leaving the company, as well as what made them decide to come back to PMG, “the people” was the resounding answer for each panelist. Their answers referenced the company vision and transparency provided by PMG’s leaders; the level of support from managers; and the ease of meeting new people and getting to know employees outside your immediate team and function as what influenced their decision to return to PMG. 

“A culture of belonging, inclusion, and diversity is on full display at PMG,” said Meredith. “And when you’re here, you’re surrounded by good people and a leadership team who are there to support you professionally and personally.”