Genentech seems like a great place to work from the outside but it really depends on what area of the company you are in - Anonymous employee Genentech Employee Review

2.0
Apr 7, 2009
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The products our company makes are top notch and they do help a lot of people

Cons

Genentech is terrible at execution, at least in Production Operations. We are great at developing amazing drugs but processes are nearly non-existent. The processes that do exist are not used or not communicated. No one knows who has the rights to make a decision so they ask every single person involved in the issue to help make one, making things horribly inefficient and creating chaos. If anyone is half capable of documenting a process, not even optimizing it, just documenting it, they think you are a genius. Communication at this company is great from the Executives but middle management and cross-functional communication is poor at best. Capable people mangers are also severely lacking.

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5.0
Jul 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great culture and work environment.

Cons

PhD is necessary oftentimes for advancement.

3.0
May 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Genentech's origin story and mission are genuinely inspiring — few companies can point to such a meaningful historical arc in medicine. Patient engagement is taken seriously and feels authentic, not performative. The campus is beautiful and the culture has real warmth.

Cons

DDA is operating with significant gaps. First, the foundational data infrastructure is not mature enough to support the ambitions being set for the team. Second, the measurement culture has gotten ahead of the methodology, and no one in a position of authority seems to be asking hard questions about whether the numbers actually mean what they're being presented as meaning. Third, some management feel disconnected from the work itself, lacking the knowledge, hands-on experience, or relevant credentials. Individually any one of these would be manageable. Together these create an environment where it's hard to do rigorous work, rather work is performative, and be recognized for it.

3
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