Intellectual Ventures Employee Reviews about "work life balance"

Pros

* Smart people and challenging work * Opportunity to work on a variety of different projects/areas * Great work life balance and flexibility when you need

Cons

* Comms could be better, too many grapevine conversations

Pros

I have been working for IV now for a number of years. Good Atmosphere for the most part. Work Life Balance is great and management allow you to get your job done without micro managing.

Cons

Some Difficult personalities within the Organization.

Pros

Work life balance, compensation, location, new leadership in the last couple of years, I get to work on a lot of different things, and I feel supported and appreciated by the new IT leadership. Lots of clubs, HR has good employee focused programs, peer lead technical training, and the people support and help each other.

Cons

STG (IT) went through a really difficult period due to poor leadership but that changed at the beginning of 2012. Some people still get stuck in the old defensive mindset and need to be shaken out of apathy. Makes getting things done take longer. Recent layoffs due to growing too quickly.

Pros

Compensation is excellent as is the work/life balance. People come and go as they please; no micromanaging. Expectations are high which can be good or bad depending on your self confidence and sense of independence. IV loves its high performers so you can go far if you have the smarts, the right attitude and are willing to work hard and chart your own course.

Cons

The culture is very political if you want to get ahead. There is a complete absence of leadership in Finance (despite having 2 CFOs!) While my coworkers are good people they generally stay to themselves. There is no "team" feel. It is fairly unfriendly and "cold". In fact, I leave at the end of the day completely drained....not because of long hours....but because of a feeling of mistrust. I wouldn't recommend IV unless you have thick skin, are ok with office politics, and the conflict that will occasionally erupt amongst senior management. Not a culture that brings out the best in people.

Pros

Compensation and benefits are some of the best, with its change to PTO in 2014 is also a big plus. Work life balance is 100% better than previous companies I have worked for in the same role. There are some truly intelligent and innovative people in this Company. I have been around long enough to see this mid size company grapple with it's culture which was much like a startup and individualized start to morph into a much more cohesive and integrated company. Over the last four years with the hiring of Adriane Brown as COO it has proceeded on a steady path of change and maturing that has brought about personnel change of many of the Executive staff across all departments. Within the IT department we have had a complete swap of Managers and CTO which has greatly improved the maturity and experience of those leading. It is nice knowing when you come to work that you have the resources and support of management to affect change. I would suggest this company to a friend.

Cons

Organizational maturity has been slow and painful at times. Personal accountability has not always been a focus. Middle management in past have been slow to address inefficiencies and strive for improvement across teams and departments.

Pros

Great work life balance. Smart coworkers.

Cons

I heard rumblings of highly political drama, but it never affected me. The patent trolling business is dubious.

Pros

Great pay and benefits, work/life balance

Cons

Difficult due to changes in patent licensing

Pros

I feel that the finance department has clear goals. We are given the necessary resources and freedom to work toward those goals. We are a very collaborative group who willingly solve problems together. Our executive leadership is transparent to the extent they are able regarding expectations, performance, achievements, failures and future aspirations. We are always looking at long term solutions that all groups can integrate with. We are a dynamic business with complex business practices. This keeps things interesting and exciting, especially when a finance job typically becomes stale and boring. IV compensates fairly, work / life balance is appropriate and benefits are competitive.

Cons

People outside of IV seem to form opinions of our business model quickly. I remind those that we are in the business of world changing innovation. If we do not protect our inventors ideas, then we are at risk of losing some of the most brilliant, innovative people in the world.

Pros

IV has investment in multiple IP markets meaning that there are always interesting projects to work on. IV has some of the most educated, intelligent and focused individuals I have ever encountered. This alone made the experience incredibly worthwhile. I appreciate that there is a corporate wide interest in developing new ideas and it is inspiring to see the company's laser focus in improving the lives of those plagued with crippling poverty, disease and a lack of food and potable water. Work life balance largely depends upon personal ambition and the business unit an employee works.

Cons

Intellectual Property is a rapidly changing landscape that is mostly influenced by less ethical organizations whose behaviors magnify the negative attitude policy makers and the judiciary have toward towards these business. The unease that has been created by the threats of changes to intellectual property law has resulted in a massive and continuing effort to reduce costs.

Pros

Basically a law firm - Above average pay Work / Life balance is good with benefits and time-off

Cons

Basically a law firm - The politics and grey area decisions that go with it Lack of vision and monthly changing goals. Litigation is a costly risky process and is the only option for the company to generate revenue going forward.