Politics and Crony Management - Anonymous employee Mary Kay Employee Review

2.0
21 Mar 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Beautiful building and most of the people are terrific. The "potential" is wonderful, but falls short.

Cons

People are promoted into positions for which they are not suited because of crony management. The senior level of management is comprised of people who've been with MKI for decades, so they are so mired in old-school conquer and control management versus actual leadership that inspires and rewards based on genuine merit and solid performance. The "managers" are so busy being "bosses" that they forget or have no clue about how to be leaders. Great people have left because they are just stuck and see no future because of the wall of old-timers that are hiring their pals and keeping good and highly qualified personnel from advancing. It is so very sad. Mary Kay Ash is spinning in her grave.

Explore other reviews about Mary Kay

5.0
23 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

People-oriented, good values, strong mission

Cons

Sometimes awkward hierarchy and employee performance review process

3.0
17 Feb 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Wonderful coworkers, amenities at the Mary Kay Building, and overall a mostly pleasant place to work from a day to day perspective.

Cons

Senior management seems totally lost. Strategy is ever shifting, and seems based more on whatever management's current flight of fancy happens to be. Little to nothing has been done to address the very real long-term issues related to the business. There's a reluctance to meaningfully change or address systemic issues leading to an existential risk to the business. It's so bad, the former CEO is suing the current CEO for mismanaging the company. They are father and son. It's that bad.

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