Ashoka Reviews

Pros

Unrivaled opportunity to create positive impact

Cons

The organization needs to continue to grow

Pros

The passion people share is incredible. People are great and you get to work with like-minded people across the globe. There’s a lot of flexibility in terms of work schedule.

Cons

Even though Ashoka has existed for over 40 years it still feels like a start up. Important decisions are made mostly by the CEO, so it’s a big bottleneck. Pay is incredibly low, which means that only people who have partners who earn more or who have family wealth can afford to work here. In the US there are only 3 federal holidays and no vacations guaranteed. You have to work extra hours to accumulate comp time to take vacation. There’s also no standardized parental leave, so people have very different experiences and it’s not equitable. You have to earn comp time to take parental leave. Operations in general are not taken seriously. There are bright people working in operations doing their best, but often times decision making at the top doesn’t prioritize or even allow improvements in processes. This results in the organization having very basic and manual operations.

Pros

You get to work with leading social entrepreneurs.

Cons

Poor management. Stuck to using terrible systems that don’t work. No structure Very low pay No diversity

Pros

Worked with some of the most genuine, interesting colleagues. Talked about enabling big, important change on a daily basis. Changing roles within Ashoka is common, with lots of shifting potential (at least horizontally) once you are in the door. Teammates seem to truly value and respect each other’s lives outside of work, and will be quick to celebrate/comfort/support one another whenever necessary. There are certainly busy seasons at Ashoka, but generally a healthy work-life balance is encouraged.

Cons

Ashoka is all about big change… as long as that change is external. Lots of turnover with disillusioned colleagues who become frustrated with the inefficiencies and siloed efforts within Ashoka’s somewhat autonomous teams. The founder, Bill, has ultimate control over too many aspects at Ashoka—from the highly biased hiring process to minute decisions of his favorite (typically youth-focused) teams within the organization. Ashoka’s communication and digital presence was particularly weak, with out-of-touch communications directors micromanaging young associates, and relying on a handful of charismatic Fellows to inspire. Those few star Fellows will be used repeatedly for conferences, fundraising, and marketing opportunities, while neglecting other Fellows who could use Ashokas support.

Pros

I got to travel the world and work with amazing colleagues and Ashoka Fellows. Nothing better than discovering a new place through the lens of a social entrepreneur. I benefitted from smart and hardworking interns and junior staff that were hungry to make a change in the world. Learnt a LOT about new fields of social innovation like education and health thanks to working on multiple grants.

Cons

The level of pay for junior and mid level staff is disrespectful. Even worse is the fact that interns are not paid at all. Valuing their contributions to this organization could go far in nurturing and keeping experienced staff. Failure to hold senior directors and top-level management accountable for repeated lackluster performance. This comes with a general lack of transparency on decisions taken at the top, despite Ashoka supporting entrepreneurs who tackle this very same issue in their own contexts. Ashoka is recognized for its ability to identify and select young leaders and entrepreneurs. However, the final decision is often in the hands of a senior director that is many decades older than the applicant and is not up to date on the reality of industries that have shifted since they last worked in them. The role of technology and software in social movements are one such example.

Pros

Great people, flexible environment and innovative workplace

Cons

Low salaries and standardized benefits

Pros

They are remote for now.

Cons

The Company is completely disorganized and dysfunctional. No guidance, onboarding, or training whatsoever. Stay away

Pros

Clearly people are never able to get fired here Pay is better than it used to be Remote for now

Cons

- Will be forcing into the office asap based on out of touch senior leadership - Very toxic culture from the CEO/leaders, throws tantrums about people taking vacations or maternity leaves - every straightforward system (payroll, HR, office management) is RIFE with incompetence. Nothing will be done correctly ever without begging. -prepare to be micromanaged by incompetent leaders until the project is shelved

Pros

The people you work with are (for the most part) amazing, innovative, entrepreneurial individuals

Cons

-You will be overworked (ever hour you work overtime is an hour towards PTO so if you don't work overtime you don't get PTO) -It's impossible to move up unless you're hired in the entrepreneurial track AND are close to leadership (if you team is not close to leadership you will have trouble getting raises, promotions, or even hiring in your team) -You can innovate and make your own "team of teams" BUT unless it's an innovation that Bill and leadership loves, you will get not budgeting or fundraising help -1000000 meetings all the time -Compensation is laughable. Unless you are already wealthy, it will be hard to reach financial stability if you start from a junior position

Pros

Good people, flexible, incredible collaboration opportunities, the work is great and you can take ownership and do a lot. It’s a great place to be as you’re starting your career.

Cons

- Perpetuates the “if you work in non profit/ do good, you will get paid very little - because we’re selfless and don’t do this for money” narrative - A lot to get done with very little people - Time off has to be “earned” aka you have to work more than 42 hours a week to accumulate 2 hours off. To make it worse, this is true even when it comes to parental leave. Like I have to work overtime now or in the future to be able to care for my newborn. Which is ironic cause we’re talking about well-being all the time.