Some geat opportunities but poor officer level leadership - Anonymous employee Genentech Employee Review

2.0
Aug 2, 2009
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

A personal pride that comes with knowing you work for Genentech. The satisfaction of feeling like you can actually take part in rather senior level type of decisionmaking even if you are not at a senior level.

Cons

Officer level leadership treats employees like children, giving them virtually no input to the pedantic budget process or overall vision of the department. Sometimes I thought that the most senior management genuinely didn't understand technology. Even the simplest decisions like hiring mid-level staff have to go through extensive review at the VP level. Also, and the worst part -- senior management doesn't even know or care about the "bread and butter" services we provide, sometimes it's like these things are actively DISLIKED.

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Pros

Great culture and work environment.

Cons

PhD is necessary oftentimes for advancement.

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May 7, 2026
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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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