Classic example of private equity rot - Vice President Carnegie Dartlet Employee Review

1.0
22 Aug 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The pros are a shell game. You got unlimited PTO? They won’t let you take it and it’s just a benefit to the company so they can pay you off without paying out any accrued time. That’s literally why they have it.

Cons

ADVICE: If you’re being acquired by this company, start interviewing and quit before the ink dries. They grow through acquisition. Non-organic pump-and-dump kind of stuff. The average employee age is quite young because when they buy a company, they take the people who have built it for a decade or more and eliminate them within 6 months, after they have drained them of their knowledge (but not of their skill and experience). They decide based on the balance sheet, not based on performance. All they are doing when you meet with the top brass at Carnegie in your first weeks is evaluating whether the brand can survive by replacing you with someone in their 20s getting paid half. They do it over and over. Low diversity, low experience, poor tech stack, no training, no empathy — just finding ways to do less work, cheaper. The worst version of private equity backing.

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Carnegie Dartlet Response
10mo
Thank you for sharing your perspective and for your honest feedback. We are truly sorry to hear that your experience with Carnegie’s acquisition process has been so negative and frustrating. We understand your concerns about job security, the value of experienced employees, and the sentiment that our growth is not organic. We take your feedback seriously and are committed to re-evaluating our approach to acquisitions and how we integrate new teams. It is never our intention to make anyone feel disposable or that their knowledge is being "drained." We believe that the people who built these companies are invaluable. We are dedicated to ensuring a smooth process for acquired teams. We know that change can be difficult, and we work hard with our communication and support for all employees during these transitions. Please reach out to hr@carnegiehighered.com with additional comments or concerns.

Explore other reviews about Carnegie Dartlet

5.0
12 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The people are truly kind, collaborative, and mission driven. Everyone genuinely cares about supporting higher education and helping clients succeed, and that shows up in how teams work together day to day. There are a lot of smart people here, and the culture is collaborative rather than competitive. It feels like everyone wants each other to win. There are strong opportunities to work cross functionally, learn new skills, and try new ideas. There is also real room to fail, test new approaches, and learn without fear.

Cons

The pace is very fast. The work is good and meaningful, but it can feel intense at times. I also wish compensation were higher, especially given the speed and level of responsibility.

2
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Carnegie Dartlet Response
4w
Thank you for taking the time to share such positive feedback! It is incredibly rewarding to hear that our mission to support higher education resonates so strongly with your day-to-day work. We are very proud of our collaborative team, and knowing that you feel encouraged to cross-train, innovate, and try new approaches without fear of failure is the best compliment we could ask for. We hear your feedback regarding the fast-paced intensity of the work and compensation. We know how hard our teams work, and we are continually looking at ways to ensure our salaries remain competitive and that our workloads remain manageable during busy seasons. If you ever have specific ideas on how we can improve the day-to-day pace for your team, please feel free to share them with us at hr@carnegiehighered.com.
1.0
23 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The client portfolio is genuinely interesting, and the peer-level team is incredibly talented, collaborative, and supportive. There are great people working here at the execution level, and you will build strong professional relationships.

Cons

Retention and management are major issues. Turnover is incredibly high, particularly within the first 90 days for new strategists. The company conducts surveys regarding capacity, but internal data is ignored—workloads routinely exceed promised limits (e.g., managing 12 clients when internal models cap roles at 8). Furthermore, the management style leans heavily toward negative critique rather than constructive coaching, creating a lack of psychological safety. Internal mobility is also poorly handled. Toxic culture.

10
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