Great Colleagues, Unsustainable Workloads. - Anonymous employee Carnegie Dartlet Employee Review

2.0
Jan 14, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Strong employee relationships. I’ve met so many truly incredible people here — talented, supportive, and genuinely wonderful colleagues. The individual contributors are the reason this company continues to succeed. People show up for each other, problem-solve together, and carry an enormous amount of responsibility with care and dedication. Unfortunately, while employees are the backbone of this company’s success, there isn’t enough structural support to retain them long-term — whether through workload balance, realistic demands, or competitive compensation. Ulimited PTO is the biggest perk but only if you feel comfortable taking it, knowing it'll be a real struggle to catch up when you return. Even with well-meaning colleagues who want to help, the bandwidth and availability isn't there.

Cons

Carnegie used to be a unicorn company. When leadership said “People First,” they truly meant it. I felt like I had finally found a place where I could thrive both professionally and personally. There were strong boundaries, real work-life balance, and a genuinely positive company culture. Over the past few years, following multiple acquisitions and unprecedented growth, the company has struggled to scale its culture alongside its size. Instead of evolving intentionally, the culture has shifted toward empty affirmations and a “we’re all drowning” mentality. Trauma bonding over working nights and weekends just to stay afloat is not healthy team building. Burnout has become normalized. What once felt supportive now often feels reactive and survival-based. The heart of what made this company special has slowly eroded.

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Carnegie Dartlet Response
5mo
Thank you for this incredibly candid feedback. It’s heartening to hear your praise for your colleagues, but deeply concerning to hear that Carnegie's growth has led to a culture of burnout and 'trauma bonding.' We clearly have work to do in ensuring our 'People First' mission scales alongside our business. We are taking your comments regarding workload, compensation, and the reality of taking PTO to heart as we refine our internal structures. We appreciate your honesty and please feel free to reach out to hr@carnegiehighered.com with additional comments or concerns.

Explore other reviews about Carnegie Dartlet

5.0
Feb 12, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The people are truly kind, collaborative, and mission driven. Everyone genuinely cares about supporting higher education and helping clients succeed, and that shows up in how teams work together day to day. There are a lot of smart people here, and the culture is collaborative rather than competitive. It feels like everyone wants each other to win. There are strong opportunities to work cross functionally, learn new skills, and try new ideas. There is also real room to fail, test new approaches, and learn without fear.

Cons

The pace is very fast. The work is good and meaningful, but it can feel intense at times. I also wish compensation were higher, especially given the speed and level of responsibility.

2
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Carnegie Dartlet Response
1mo
Thank you for taking the time to share such positive feedback! It is incredibly rewarding to hear that our mission to support higher education resonates so strongly with your day-to-day work. We are very proud of our collaborative team, and knowing that you feel encouraged to cross-train, innovate, and try new approaches without fear of failure is the best compliment we could ask for. We hear your feedback regarding the fast-paced intensity of the work and compensation. We know how hard our teams work, and we are continually looking at ways to ensure our salaries remain competitive and that our workloads remain manageable during busy seasons. If you ever have specific ideas on how we can improve the day-to-day pace for your team, please feel free to share them with us at hr@carnegiehighered.com.
1.0
Jun 23, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The client portfolio is genuinely interesting, and the peer-level team is incredibly talented, collaborative, and supportive. There are great people working here at the execution level, and you will build strong professional relationships.

Cons

Retention and management are major issues. Turnover is incredibly high, particularly within the first 90 days for new strategists. The company conducts surveys regarding capacity, but internal data is ignored—workloads routinely exceed promised limits (e.g., managing 12 clients when internal models cap roles at 8). Furthermore, the management style leans heavily toward negative critique rather than constructive coaching, creating a lack of psychological safety. Internal mobility is also poorly handled. Toxic culture.

10
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