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 27, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Patient-centric company. great culture & benefits

Cons

Not always clear how promotions are awarded.

2.0
Jun 19, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The work is meaningful and overall the company vision aligns with my goals

Cons

QA management has become inept. None of the leadership (aside from maybe one or two) truly understand the nuances of our site and jobs. They refuse to pay you more due to "budget" reasons but won't provide much information, they claim to be transparent but will make decisions behind your back and not communicate them, even if they impact you and/or your job. Leadership doesn't listen to feedback and gets defensive if you even try to give any. It honestly has become a game of politics only in QA and that's not really building any real quality culture.

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