“A Cowboys Job” in the Digital Marketing Space: My Story, My Stand

By Temitope Aluko | SEO & Digital Marketing Expert

In a rapidly evolving digital economy, the demand for skilled marketers continues to rise — but so too does the number of companies taking shortcuts, compromising ethics, professionalism, and mental health in the name of “hustle.” This is the story of how I, a seasoned digital marketing professional, took a stand against what I call a “Cowboys Job.”

The Red Flags

At first, the job looked promising: a creative agency with a roster of international clients and a fast-paced environment. But very soon, it became clear that the operations were anything but professional. I was micromanaged, insulted in team meetings, and constantly pressured with unrealistic expectations — all under the guise of “passion” and “urgency.”

Instead of a culture of collaboration, I was met with public shaming when projects faced delays — even when those delays stemmed from poor internal communication or shifting goalposts. It wasn’t unusual for leadership to change directives from morning to night or to deny their own instructions when outcomes were unfavorable.

An Environment That Broke Boundaries

The final straw wasn’t just a warning letter for delays — it was the lack of emotional intelligence and basic respect for personal boundaries. I was spoken to with derogatory language, accused unfairly of mismanaging client projects without factual basis, and expected to work in conditions that were both mentally and emotionally exhausting.

Even worse, management chose to ignore concerns I raised in good faith — choosing instead to paint me as “toxic” for defending myself or questioning inconsistency. In a particularly low moment, a colleague weaponized private frustrations to create a false narrative that ignored the contributions I made to ongoing SEO projects and client campaigns.

The Reality of Toxic Work Culture in Digital Agencies

This experience, while painful, is sadly not uncommon in today’s digital marketing world. Some agencies operate on cowboy ethics — promising the world to clients, overworking staff without clear systems, and punishing employees for failures rooted in management decisions.

They demand loyalty without offering leadership. They call for respect while disrespecting the people who build their brand reputation from the ground up.

And when things go wrong? They gaslight, blame, and belittle — often publicly.

Additional Signs of a Toxic “Cowboy” Agency

1. No Respect for Professional Boundaries

I was expected to be available round-the-clock, even outside agreed working hours — without any compensation or regard for personal time. Saying “I’m not feeling well” was treated as an excuse rather than a valid reason for rest or delay.

2. Micromanagement Masquerading as “Accountability”

Instead of trusting my expertise or collaborating on solutions, tasks were micromanaged to the point where I was constantly second-guessed, contradicted, or overridden — even on matters where I had more experience.

3. Public Shaming and Emotional Abuse

Team meetings were often turned into spectacles where colleagues were shamed, shouted at, or humiliated. Feedback wasn’t constructive — it was personal, emotional, and weaponized to assert dominance.

4. No Proper Workflow or Documentation

Despite dealing with dozens of client accounts, the company had no structured project management workflow, no unified reporting standard, and no defined approval or QA processes — yet employees were blamed when things fell through the cracks.

5. Gaslighting and Shifting Narratives

Leadership would deny conversations or change the story to suit their version of events. You could receive instructions, complete the task, and still be blamed for “not doing what was agreed upon.”

6. Using “Passion” to Justify Burnout

Burnout was glorified. If you were overwhelmed or raised concerns, you were labeled “lazy” or “not passionate.” Meanwhile, the chaos and lack of structure led to repeated failures — and scapegoats were chosen instead of real problem-solving.

7. Lack of Leadership and Emotional Intelligence

There was no sense of emotional leadership. Instead of managing people with empathy and clarity, emotions were used to bully, shame, and create an environment of fear and compliance.

8. Undermining Other Professionals

I was publicly undermined in front of clients and coworkers, creating confusion and tension within the team. Instead of encouraging professional discourse, management fostered a toxic “us vs. them” culture internally.

9. No Credit, Only Blame

Wins were claimed by the company. Losses were blamed on individual staff. I worked hard to build SEO strategies, content pipelines, and technical audits — but none of that mattered when management needed someone to blame.

10. Culture of Fear, Not Growth

Everyone was walking on eggshells. Staff couldn’t speak freely or express disagreement. The fear of being “next” kept everyone quiet, even when things were clearly going wrong.

11. No Recognition of Professionalism

Credentials, experience, and input didn’t matter unless it aligned with the ego of the leadership. This wasn’t a place where digital professionals were respected — it was a place where your worth was decided by how submissive you were.

Why I’m Speaking Up

I didn’t write this for sympathy. I wrote this for awareness. No professional — especially in a knowledge-based field like digital marketing — should be subjected to workplace bullying, inconsistent leadership, or a toxic culture that disguises abuse as “passion.”

To every digital marketer out there: Know your value. Your expertise, your data-driven thinking, your ability to bring growth — these are assets. Don’t trade your mental health or dignity for a paycheck. And to every business leader reading this: Leadership isn’t about control, it’s about vision, structure, and trust.

Moving Forward

I’m choosing to walk away from toxicity with my head held high. My passion for digital marketing remains unshaken. I’m already channeling my energy into working with clients and businesses who value transparency, mutual respect, and ethical growth.

I’ll keep building, keep optimizing, and keep delivering impact — but only in places where I am seen as a collaborator, not a commodity.

To those navigating similar experiences: You’re not alone. And to the so-called “cowboy agencies” out there: Your time is up.

— Temitope Aluko