Teneo reviews

The consulting team is respected in their niche but are not very transparent on what that niche is (sectors and project types). It felt like a bit of a bait and switch for me. We are trying to be everything to everyone but I think it would be better to return to a more focused go-to-market. The brand reputation and positioning isn’t great so when I was ready to leave it was more difficult to market my skills or move across to a similar level. I know others who have also had that challenge. Growth and changes across Teneo are adding some uncertainty…it’s still unclear how the strategy will come together and what people exactly should be doing. I wouldn’t be surprised if some areas are deprioritised to focus more on the synergies. Projects can get repetitive or be duds that didn’t feel very strategic. I think this is the true in most places but the scheduling is opaque and the push can be driven by mismatched development goals. The progression obsession also made my hours more difficult (I found there to be longer hours and more travel towards the end) and the firm feel can get quite pressurised. I know people who have been pushed out early. The pay only stays competitive if you progress quickly and the company is owned by private equity so the model is a bit different.

Teneo’s work environment is defined by long hours and significant stress. The egos of senior leaders are a dominant feature of the company’s culture, requiring employees to navigate unwritten and unspoken rules of engagement with them. You will not be given the playbook for this you will have to figure it out alone. For young consultants, Teneo can serve as a stepping stone, providing 1-3 years of experience before moving on to better opportunities. However, I’ve seen junior consultants repeatedly saddled with increasing responsibilities without any corresponding compensation for the added workload, stress, accountability or effective guidance and support. This approach eventually becomes the status quo. While taking on greater responsibility can be a way to grow, the lack of recognition and proper compensation leads to alarmingly high attrition rates and overall unhappiness and stress. People don’t mind working hard, but doing so without acknowledgment inevitably breeds frustration and discontent. I don’t use this term lightly, but the only way to describe the culture at Teneo is toxic. The company has the foundations to offer a strong and fulfilling career, but in practice, several recurring issues often get in the way. Challenges such as poor work-life balance, inconsistent application of policies, limited progression opportunities, and a lack of trust and respect for employees can make it difficult to fully realise that potential. Instances of favouritism and inappropriate behaviour, including bullying, have also contributed to a culture that at times feels misaligned with its stated values.