ABOUT
McGARRAH JESSEE

This is an ad agency that likes to think of itself as an idea shop. What’s so special about that? The company prioritizes people and work-life balance over business growth, which means job satisfaction—and creativity—is always high. The day-to-day includes conducting consumer research, focusing on analytics, planning social strategy, and making media buys.

COMPANY CULTURE: Putting people first can occasionally complicate business decisions, but the long-term dividend in creativity and morale is worth the investment. To buttress this people-first culture, the company provides profit sharing to all employees as a percentage of salary—historically ranging anywhere from 0 to 45 percent (average is 17 percent)—and hosts an annual boat party, golf tournament, and Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl touch-football game. The collegial atmosphere extends to the office, where employees regularly work from the Wi-Fi-equipped rooftop and take small-group walking meetings.

SWEET PERK: A benefit of having outdoor clients like Costa Sunglasses and Yeti? Trips to places like Guyana, Guatemala, Belize, and the Yucatan Peninsula for photo shoots and filming conservation expeditions are considered work. Also part of work: the $1,000 holiday bonus, Beer:30 rooftop happy hour, and corporate gym discounts (free for anyone who’s been with the agency for 10 years or longer).

GIVING BACK: The agency participates in mentorship and hiring programs for talented but underserved youth through the nonprofit E4Youth. It also offers job shadowing to local high schoolers.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “I’ve been with McJ for almost nine years. What makes this place compelling to me is the mix of quirky personalities—passionate artists, obsessive tinkerers, problem solvers, mathematicians, musicians, and craftsmen. Those differences all come together so that we sharpen one another like iron on iron.” —Brian Jordan, creative director

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