Associate - Director Kearney Employee Review

2.0
Aug 24, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Associates and below and 50% of managers a are generally easy going and collaborative Some principals and partners get that maintaining the steady state (high sourcing focus) will lead to ATK being acquired / bleeding capital Brand doesn't hurt you, just won't open any doors.. Those that state a con is the work life balance have not worked for another consulting co. with a travel model. It is a fact of life so get used to it, or exit...

Cons

Major themes I encountered while at ATK and themes that other reviewers have also voiced… -Limited brand - too sourcing heavy – too many partners content maintaining course (sourcing projects) -Partners become territorial over accounts, stifles innovation and cross pollination across functions and industry groups -Upward feedback does not offer the anonymity when project teams are small so there is fear of retaliation -Most managers and principals lack people development skills and are more project managers than leaders -Company unwilling to commit capital to branch effectively into new areas, e.g. SF office and attempt to get into tech was a complete failure with majority of partners recruited departing Co and it's people claim to be entrepreneurial (recommend them to join a tech co), they use linear thinking / box thinking to a fault ATK is poor at implementing best practices, templates and processes and often waste time churning for partners whims that add no value Too often associates are treated like data jockeys, analysts like low level data entry employees Horrible system to capture and locate IC / knowledge, they talk about changing but never do If you aren't in with a click finding consistent projects is an uphill battle. You have to push for good projects and good teams or else you're could be fitted in with the low end of managers and principals to work for Promotions based more on partner network and support and not consistent with whether the person can lead people (not just a project). Too sourcing focused, too many partners not willing to re-invent themselves and enter into new next gen areas. Reliance on sourcing revenue a huge concern, EY and others pricing models are far lower and eating ATK's lunch

Explore other reviews about Kearney

5.0
May 21, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Amazing culture and talent that truly embraces forward looking

Cons

Travel but that’s common for the industry

1.0
Apr 16, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

If you’re fresh out of school and don’t have a specific skill and don’t know what to do, and you’re willing to be a yes man then yes it might be a good place to figure out your next step.

Cons

- Lack of pipeline for certain practices (and they will blame that on you saying your utilization is low but there’s nothing you can do at an associate level) - Full of people that feel good about themselves but they actually knows nothing about how actual industry work - No talent - Management will give you vague feedback that you can’t act on, For example, I got asked to “elevate the deck” but when I asked is it the messaging or is it the format etc they can’t give me anything specific - The expectation on work quality is inconsistent - Some manager level people can’t do excel which is shocking - You need to be a people pleaser in order to get promoted

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