JD Power Reviews

It was clear that JDP needed change, and the introduction of new leadership initially felt like a logical step forward. However, it quickly became evident that these changes were not designed with employees in mind—especially those who have dedicated years to building the company from a collection of smaller businesses into the successful organization it is today. The new CEO appeared to come in with a singular focus: preparing the company for sale. This direction brought a sweeping overhaul of leadership, with many executives from Sterling stepping in and replacing long-tenured leaders who had deep institutional knowledge, genuine care, and passion for the business. The focus shifted toward packaging the company for potential buyers, with leadership seemingly positioned to benefit financially, while employees who have invested their careers here are left to navigate the fallout. While some level of reorganization and alignment was necessary, the speed and execution lacked thoughtful consideration and a true understanding of the business’s complexity. Practices from Sterling were applied in a way that didn’t translate well, and in the process, the culture that once defined JDP has been steadily dismantled. One by one, the people and elements that made this company special are being removed. At the same time, there is increasing pressure to find cost savings, despite the company’s continued success. It’s difficult to reconcile these demands with the significant investment in new leadership at much higher compensation levels, alongside questionable spending decisions. Meanwhile, meaningful programs like the Western internship are being cut. Morale has taken a significant hit. It’s become common to hear about colleagues being exited, only to see more “friends” brought in shortly after. The remaining leaders who truly care are doing their best to support employees, but many are stretched thin and facing burnout. There is a growing sense of uncertainty about what comes next. With the current economic climate, many employees feel stuck, which only adds to the frustration and anxiety.

For me, the culture felt very traditional. It seemed like there were some new hires in Senior leadership that wanted to drive innovation and recognized a need to improve the culture, but change is often slow with big, mature companies. Although people were personally nice, I often felt like I was working in a white collar factory among the walking dead. It felt largely like people were just there because it was comfortable and to get a paycheck. I didn't sense a lot of passion or excitement about the work. I would recommend JD Power to graduates looking to gain experience and to those who are not necessarily looking to advance their careers, but want a steady job at a respected company in this industry (and live close enough to the office that it's a good lifestyle choice to work there).