Like IDEO but focused on impact, with adventure and travel?! Sounds amazing, but... - Anonymous employee IDEO.org Employee Review

2.0
25 Feb 2020
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

It's almost like working at IDEO, with more inspiring work and partners. IDEO'ers come over to IDEO.org for short fellowship stints to do the most inspiring work and travel a bit, and then they go back to IDEO to build their career, have work-life balance, and support their families.

Cons

Leadership doesn't live out the empathy characteristic that made IDEO such a great place to work. There are clear favorites of management, it's more cut-throat, cliquey, and a bit of founder syndrome is occurring as the company grows and leaders don't know how to handle. Much lower pay and benefits than your IDEO colleagues you work side-by-side with on a daily basis, and no real mentorship or support, so there is high turnover. I watched a number of employees, maybe a dozen...?, quit over the years very angry at leadership; not just disillusioned with the nonprofit sector, but really pissed off at how they were treated and feeling used and discarded. That happened too many times to be a fluke - it seems to be a trend. I also have serious concerns with the fast-and-loose way they are sending staff to very dangerous corners of the world without adequate approaches to safety and security - places like Dhaka, Nairobi, and beyond.

Explore other reviews about IDEO.org

5.0
30 Jan 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

great culture and support for designers

Cons

doing design work remotely can be harder

3.0
30 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

open minded | creative | career advancement |

Cons

poor management | upward mobility stifled

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