Pros
The culture of transparency minimizes politics and enables the power of collective knowledge. The community is filled with incredible people who are as caring as they are smart. The organization sets the tone of excellence in everything from performance expectations to health benefits to constant evolution. If you’re up for the most rigorous professional and personal growth you might be able to experience in your lifetime (along with the difficult work that takes), consider Bridgewater. I’ve never felt so challenged and so cared for at the same time and feel like I would struggle in any other environment after having had the privilege of working here.
Cons
The culture is challenging for many; your work and mistakes are on display so everyone can learn and weigh in. If you thrive in recognition-focused environments, this isn’t for you. It’s also a tough environment for quick delivery. Decisions can take a long time and those who are delivery driven can struggle with the viscosity. Career paths are less clear than in most organizations which gives you flexibility and ambiguity together (more diligence is needed to be sure career progression steps make sense). Lastly, the environment offers a lot of room for entrepreneurship which leads to great things but often lacks in structure which causes a reliance on key people and tribal knowledge.