Great Campus, Toxic Politics: The Last Gasps of a Once-Great Company - Lead, Marketing Science Genentech Employee Review

2.0
May 27, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Unmatched Intellectual Capital & Exposure The opportunity for cross-functional learning is phenomenal. You are surrounded by brilliant minds and a deep well of institutional knowledge. Interacting with diverse groups, functions, and scientific disciplines provides a fantastic environment for expanding your expertise and learning directly from top-tier industry professionals. World-Class Campus & Facilities The physical work environment is truly exceptional. The company has invested heavily in creating an amazing campus equipped with top-notch, cutting-edge facilities that support both high-level execution and day-to-day employee comfort. Tier-One Benefits The total rewards and benefits packages remain highly competitive and comprehensive. The company provides excellent perks that reflect a genuine investment in employee well-being, health, and quality of life outside of work.

Cons

Lack of Cohesive Leadership and Constant Whiplash: There is no consistent leadership vision, resulting in exhausting reorganizations every 18 months. Leadership tries too hard to "change things up," but without a stable foundation, it just creates confusion. Management relies on expensive external consultants to state the obvious, attempting to rebrand the organizational structure as "Agile." In reality, they are completely conflating technical project management frameworks with organizational design, which inevitably fails and triggers yet another re-org 18 months later. Toxic Consensus and Decision Paralysis: The company culture has shifted in a way that actively punishes decisive action. You are no longer allowed to simply say "no" to an unworkable idea. Instead, corporate "Leadership Guidance" dictates that everything must be routed through cross-functional pods where endless "hmmm, have you considered..." feedback loops are prioritized over execution. What should be a respectful, fruitful discussion resulting in immediate action instead devolves into months of circular meetings. Political Promotions: Career advancement is now entirely dictated by internal politics rather than merit or capability. Several people recently promoted into Senior Roles are simply not competent, and they certainly are not "agile." This feels like the last gasps of what used to be a genuinely wonderful and pioneering company. Executive leadership has excelled in leading-edge oncology—you know exactly how to secure fast-track FDA approval for an orphan drug by executing smart, rapid solutions for complex diseases. I strongly urge you to apply that same aggressive, fast-track mentality to the rare disease metastasizing within your own organization: self-protecting political cliques. We need leadership to diagnose this internal cultural issue and cure it with the same decisive action used to bring drugs to market

Explore other reviews about Genentech

5.0
Jun 1, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Extremely experience team members and supportive corporate structure enables the field teams to execute on national strategy

Cons

The bonus structure can be a bit political

3.0
May 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Genentech's origin story and mission are genuinely inspiring — few companies can point to such a meaningful historical arc in medicine. Patient engagement is taken seriously and feels authentic, not performative. The campus is beautiful and the culture has real warmth.

Cons

DDA is operating with significant gaps. First, the foundational data infrastructure is not mature enough to support the ambitions being set for the team. Second, the measurement culture has gotten ahead of the methodology, and no one in a position of authority seems to be asking hard questions about whether the numbers actually mean what they're being presented as meaning. Third, some management feel disconnected from the work itself, lacking the knowledge, hands-on experience, or relevant credentials. Individually any one of these would be manageable. Together these create an environment where it's hard to do rigorous work, rather work is performative, and be recognized for it.

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