Pact (Washington DC) Reviews

Pros

Dynamic teams. The organization has embarked in a path to change and improve. Results are not clear yet.

Cons

A culture that allowed for favoritism, nepotism, and lack of responsibility.

Pros

The people at Pact are the truly the heart of the organization. Dedicated, passionate, and friendly, both those in DC and around the world make coming to work a pleasure. Pact as an organization is moving forward to improve its culture and impact. Great to see.

Cons

Work life balance needs improvement. This is a challenge across our sector but senior management can help to improve this by setting a positive example.

Pros

Some recent posts with overly dramatic headlines were most likely written by disgruntled staff out to damage the org, so read them with a hefty grain of salt. I've been here for a while, through all the transition and things are MUCH better now than they ever were. The new exec team is very approachable and transparent about decisions and seem to want to make this a better place to work. Upper mgmt coordinates together more often to chip away at the silos. The work is rewarding and the pay is generally fair. I don't find the hours to be bad at all but I understand some people do work long hours. Then again, Pact has flexible work hours and policies, so you rarely see anyone here after 6 PM. Even Fridays are generally quiet, with most people working from home. All in all, there seems to be increased accountability and improved morale. Even when I have been low, the people with whom I work make the days go by fast, often with a lot of laughs. Like anything in life, an organization is what you make of it. If you are frustrated, speak up and get involved to make change (isn't that the whole point of working at an NGO?) There are ample opportunities! And if you aren't happy at Pact (or any job) then you might want to reevaluate your expectations. No place is perfect and life is too short to sit around complaining on glassdoor.

Cons

1) We are still paying for some of the past messes that other posts allude to, but we are making progress. I'm surprised the Board hasn't been more humble based on their role in the issues. 2) I wish there were clearer (and more) career paths. Most people are hired for a role and don't go much further or higher without a lot of pushing (though this is getting somewhat better). 3) Pact does try to do a little too much of everything, I wish we could focus more and do a better job prioritizing projects, but that does make it an interesting place to work - there are a lot of smart, motivated people here. 4) There are depts that are short-staffed, but management is flexible with goals and objectives and we are told directly to be mindful of work-life balance. It is up to us to make it happen for ourselves. 5) Yes, there are a few people who still recite HBR articles as their own thinking, but their numbers are dwindling.

Pros

Great people, who really care and make work fun

Cons

Really unhealthy work/life balance. People work way too many hours, and people do not like the CEO Mark Viso. People are expected to work crazy hours, and teams have worked 60 hour weeks without anybody in Senior Leadership thinking there is a problem.

Pros

Some of the people in some of the country programmes unconnected to DC. There is no doubt they pay way above industry norm - but this only serves to keep people in a job who have little concern for the mission and a hill of self interest.

Cons

It starts from the top with CEO Mark Viso. He sets the negative culture and uses the company to boost his ego and his reputation through an endless round of meaningless speaking events that couldn’t be more distant from the reality in the organisation. Tread carefully. Viso and his inner circle are vicious and vindictive and have no regard for others or the people they pretend to serve. But it doesn’t end with Viso, the culture is corrosive and senior and middle management from DC to DRC are complicit in the grab for funds and allowances. If you want your faith broken in international NGOs, apply for a job at PACT.

Pros

Pact is able to attract some good people by paying well and offering good benefits and a good office space downtown.

Cons

Where to start? Perhaps by a review of what has been said below. I was shocked that Mark Viso CEO was rated as highly as 25% favorably. But then I checked the reviews more closely. Just about every good review for Mark Viso comes from either interns or junior level staff. I only saw 2 from someone who would have interacted with him much. In short, Pact is run by a bully. It is especially brutal to work here as a more senior level women, as several have said. Everything, and I mean everything, is done to satisfy his very out sized ego. A decade in to his rule, he is like an old school President for Life, I'm always right, know you place, obey all commands and you will be fine kinda leader. Those who step out of place, politely suggest he may not be perfect, are banished from his court, sneered and and made to feel very unwelcome in the boys club called leadership. I'm so pleased not to be there.

Pros

Pact may be one of the most commented-on NGOs on Glassdoor. Pros? CEO Viso does have some good days. Somehow, Pact continues to win projects, despite discombobulated proposals, and the work in the field is consistently strong and inspiring. Pact plods along, year after year, although it seeks to "transform" year after year as well. Great place to be a warm body at a desk, if that's your thing, collecting a paycheck and enjoying good benefits.

Cons

CEO Viso has his bad days, mostly when he hires top executives. They rarely last long, often for good reason. The sloth-like COO du jour makes sure Pact remains inert.

Pros

I loved the office in DC. Lots of hard work. Many decent folks.

Cons

I felt used by Mark Viso CEO. I was warned when I joined that he uses people and then drops them. He is especially challenged by strong women. I've never worked with such a self opinionated and not insecure human being. Nasty. Lower down or out of GE country I think Pact is still a good place to grow. Just avoid Mark.