BlackRock reviews

BlackRock has destroyed the culture of BGI, which basically hired smart, decent people and then gave them a lot of room to run their businesses. BlackRock is very hierarchical and NY-centric. Everything requires getting permission from senior management in NY. While senior management in NY is decent, the hierarchical culture means that a lot of managers spend time trying to figure out what the most senior managers want, and positioning themselves accordingly, rather than doing the right things. In addition, BlackRock is very loyal to employees. This is a good thing, except that in the context of the merger with BGI it means that loyalty to long-time BlackRock employees has prevented honest talent assessments and limited the career opportunities of SF-based personnel. Accordingly, there is a talent drain in SF, as people with opportunities elsewhere take them, that I expect to continue for a while. BlackRock management knows this. Unfortunately, they are very suspicious of "disloyalty" and the more talent that leaves the more patronizing and self-defeating their behavior to SF employees has become.

Despite being the largest asset manager in the world, BlackRock suffers from limited leadership vision and poor management practices. They promote the idea that working for such a massive company should make you feel fortunate and satisfied. While managing $10 trillion is indeed impressive, the reality is that employees are often exploited and treated with significant professional disrespect, especially if they raise concerns with HR. I regret not having read similar reviews before joining. If you’re considering working here, please do your research and be informed. The experiences of former employees, particularly women of color, highlight a troubling pattern of mistreatment that reflects broader issues within the company. Look for the article “Me too at BlackRock”.