Balance the Pros/Cons to understand if it is right for you - Managing Consultant Wood Mackenzie Employee Review

3.0
Dec 12, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

> access to loads of industry content and industry experts > opportunity to travel and work almost anywhere in the world > if you can make a business case for it, the firm will accomodate just about any work arrangment; work from home, in any city or country, etc. > young employees get contact with clients early in their development > Woodmac offers a great opportunity to learn for those early in their career and trying to establish a foundation of knowledge about the mining, metals, and energy industries > new owners (recently bought by private equity) seem to understand how to grow the business and have ambitiously exciting goals > icing on the cake - great benefits (generous health insurance, 5 weeks of vacation)

Cons

> pay is well below industry average > advancement is slow and based on time served, not personal development > all decisions originate in Edinburgh (the HQ) and often lack global perspective, even though the company is very global > the culture is lazy, there is no real desire to do things urgently - if a project is perceived as difficult, people often dodge the job > no one is willing to make a decision, so things are very slow to get done

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5.0
May 31, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good work life balance and interesting work

Cons

Nothing much to say on this.

3.0
Feb 2, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good people with good intentions. Work-life balance is above average.

Cons

The reality of being owned by a PE backed firm: Large scale cost reductions including mass layoffs. Woefully lean teams requiring higher workloads including much time spent on tasks outside of primary role. New leadership- since the hiring of Jason Liu, it’s hard to discern if we can trust the GLT. Observations causing concern include blame shifting, lack of accountability, and statements inferring that radical candor is actually not welcome (despite devoting an entire training module on the topic). Directors and managers do not have any power, and yet they are our conduit to executive leadership. The work has no joy anymore. We spend our days putting out fires on internal data issues, chasing lofty goals with next to nothing budgets, and trying to keep up with the ever-changing policies and procedures that impact our day to day. I rarely get a chance these days to do the job I was hired for.

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Wood Mackenzie Response
4mo
Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective. Wood Mackenzie is undergoing a bold transformation as we sharpen our focus on delivering the most connected, trusted intelligence for the energy and natural resources industries. This has brought change across many parts of the organisation as we evolve how we work, how we operate, and how we support our customers. We recognise that periods of transformation can feel challenging and, at times, uncomfortable. At the same time, this work is central to our long-term ambition to transform the way we power our planet and to build a Wood Mackenzie for the future. We remain committed to creating an environment where people can do meaningful work, contribute to a bold mission, and feel proud of the role they play in what we are building together. If you haven't already done so, I'd recommend speaking about the issues you've raised through our internal feedback channels such as our your line manager or speak to your HRBP. All feedback on Glassdoor is summarised and shared with leadership monthly so I can guarantee the themes in your review will be aired. We appreciate your honesty and your dedication to Wood Mackenzie over the past decade. Even when the feedback is challenging, it helps us build a stronger company and a better experience for our people. Thank you again for sharing your perspective. Eilish Henson, EVP, HR
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