Has potential but falls short - Program Associate Mathematica Employee Review

2.0
Nov 28, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Work life balance is second to none Great benefits Overall nice colleagues committed to the vision DC has a modern office space with nice amenities

Cons

I've heard Mathematica described as a place filled with unhappy people who refuse to leave. And in my experience that is exactly right. It is close to being an amazing company. Unfortunately it is plagued with lagging leadership who won't innovate or change, disinterested managers who make or break you, inconsistent project directors with asinine demands, and junior-mid level staff constantly having their days hijacked by crises that could have been avoidable.

Explore other reviews about Mathematica

5.0
Apr 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great colleagues, 401k match, and interesting work

Cons

Work life balance could be improved and more ability to move between departments

3.0
Jun 29, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Smart people, impactful work. A real community.

Cons

Poor strategic planning. Rather than performing real analysis and proactive thinking, leadership reacts to the environment. Strategy development and implementation at Mathematica seems like leadership throws wet spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks. In the 2010s, it was predictive modeling. Rather than proactively using predictive modeling to support their client's goals and the organization's mission, they created a data analytics division, hired smart people, and provided no guidance to support the division. Today, AI has replaced predictive modeling. These examples provide two instances of failures of corporate leadership; many more exist. Unfortunately, the company suffers from short-term incentives and an aversion to long-term investments. As an employee-owned company, you would think that the board and leadership would be more responsive to the employees. No! Over time, they have removed employees' voices from decision-making and focused on increasing their own power and independence.

7
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