CEO running the Botez Gambit - Staff Data Scientist Turo Employee Review

2.0
12 Aug 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Through past profitability and success, Turo HAS shown the business model is workable. Recent adjustments by Exec leadership/Board to solve for slower-than-desired growth has kinda thrown a wrench into all that (see other reviews), but once things settle and Turo allows itself to be a steady performer I think it'll turn out alright. - Understaffing resulting from ongoing mass resignations (see cons) should provide healthy opportunities for negotiation on the side of new employees. ⭐️⭐️So long as you're able to get in at a good price and aren't holding your breath on options/comp increases, this could be a good place to start.⭐️⭐️ For DS professionals specifically: - Incredible Data Science team, high performing and just generally great to work with IC’s/Managers with a Sr. director who is hands down one of the best managers I’ve had the opportunity of working with. Incredibly sharp, very affable, and deeply committed to ensuring team and individual success/development. - From a data perspective, one of the richer problem spaces out there by virtue of scale and the nuanced dynamics of a two-sided market place (pricing, risk, search rank, marketing, etc).

Cons

- General instability in the company brought about by decisions designed to increase churn (removal of workplace benefits like lunch and learning/development stipend, mandated/no-exception RTO MWF, move from RSU’s → options, granting of RSU portability to loosen them golden handcuffs ⛓️‍💥). - Potential headwinds to historical success due to erratic, seemingly panicked decision making by leadership bent on hitting growth goals. Potential of some present big swings costing us in long-term, and obviously the general challenges of high-performers who are able to depart doing so and being universally understaffed likely for the remainder of year at least. - Very low likelihood of comp increases in the near future, suspended for 2025 with future being conditional on extraordinary targets being met (effectively cost-of-living adjustments are considered performance incentives). - Unclear on intended future of Turo based on sudden direction shifts (pulling S1 then trying a manufactured RIF) For DS professionals specifically: - Some backslide away from model solutions towards basic heuristics in some domains may be a source of frustration (generally still think Data Org leadership can be relied on to push towards the right decision).

Explore other reviews about Turo

5.0
8 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Caring and supportive place to work.

Cons

The delayed IPO makes generating liquidity difficult.

1.0
14 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Nothing - nothing good going on here.

Cons

Career downfall, nothing to learn. Highschool project level code bases. AI tools are laughable.

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