Churn and burn - Anonymous employee HighPoint Associates Employee Review

HPA has an incredible culture that makes coming to work genuinely enjoyable. The people are what make it special — coworkers quickly become close friends, whether it’s through after-work chats, volleyball games, or housewarming get-togethers. The transition from undergrad into consulting has been seamless thanks to a group of like-minded, supportive teammates. Because the firm is relatively small, the work you do has a real impact on both clients and the company’s success. You’re not just another cog in the wheel — you see the results of your contributions. There’s also strong access to leadership at every level, from associates to partners, which creates a great environment for mentorship and growth.

The firm’s flexible structure can feel a bit unstructured at times, but it’s also a great opportunity to learn how to adapt quickly, think on your feet, and take ownership early in your career.

Some of the people I worked with were genuinely great and made the experience more manageable. The work-life balance was also reasonable in my experience, and I was generally able to maintain boundaries and avoid constant burnout.

The biggest issue was that the Business Development Associate role was not accurately represented during the hiring process. Instead of gaining meaningful exposure to strategy or consulting-style work, much of the role focused on lead generation, administrative tasks, and miscellaneous support work that did not feel especially valuable for early career development. There also seemed to be a major lack of infrastructure and training. A small number of senior employees were responsible for managing a large group of associates, many of whom were still learning the basics, which created a chaotic and inconsistent environment. The most difficult part of the experience was the leadership style of the CEO. In my experience, management felt extremely micromanaged and often unnecessarily critical. Feedback frequently came across in a way that made employees feel incompetent rather than supported. For a first job out of school especially, I think that kind of environment can be damaging and creates a pretty toxic workplace culture overall. Overall, I met some good people, but I would not recommend the role to someone looking for strong mentorship, structure, or meaningful strategic experience early in their career.