Ashoka reviews

I could write a book on my experience at this organization. Unethical. Idiotic, utopian, elitist vision. If you aren't White, ivy-league educated or willing to spend long hours mulling over the state of the world in the year 3030, then don't bother joining this organization. Because one, you will lose your mind. Second, you have no hope of any career growth. The only thing I can say I truly valued was the extended network of fellows which always put up with staff in times when management was totally indecisive and inefficient. The organization suffers from severe Founderitis and the founder controls every single decision. I'm surprised that most of the funders haven't just dropped out given that the organization doesn't really do anything substantial. If you don't believe me ask any person working at Ashoka what they do or what the organization does. You will get a roundabout, vague response that has a lot of social buzz words which no one cares about. Other than this, there is literally no real work/life in this organization - everything is come as you please, go as you please. Responsibility-free. Accountability-free. There are only 9-5 workers who slave through the day and then there's senior/upper management. You will hear the word empathy thrown around a lot. No one in this organization knows the meaning. In this organization, all my dreams of career growth fell flat. I kept telling myself that it'd get better for years. It didn't. It got worse. I am so glad i finally found an opportunity and left before I wasted another year of my life.

So many bad things here makes it difficult to list. But here are some: 1) Severe Founder-ritis by the President. Micro manages every decision within the organization. Completely lacks any empathy for his employees. Has no family of his own so the job has become the focus of his life and does not get how others have lives. Lacks any semblance of a heart. Very imperial in his interactions with employees or people he considers his inferior. Completely incapable of handling conflict of any kind. 2) Low Salaries. To add insult to injury, 10% of your 'salary' is withheld until you complete a full year and undergo a 'performance pay review'. This is not a bonus. It is what you were actually promised and should have been paid. 3) Prominent two tier system of employees. This institution is a showcase for the have and have not's. If you come from what the founder considers an 'elite' school, then you become high paid senior management. If not, then you become a very low paid (see item #2) low level staffer with zero hope of advancement. Insult to injury, even if you have a skill set (computers, language) your skill set is ignored in favor of a member of the upper tier who lacks any of your skills. 4) Weak internal systems. Managerial and financial internal controls are either weak or non existant. A lack of a management chart is not a sign of an entrepreneur. Its is a hallmark of disorganization.