Not what I signed up for - Upstream Research Analyst Wood Mackenzie Employee Review

1.0
Dec 16, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

A couple cool, nice analysts. Decent for the resume. No internet filters.

Cons

Where to begin....this company is just not as advertised. They say they provide a third-party, independent view on the industry when in reality the firm is more concerned about regurgitating whatever the oil companies are saying in an effort to appease their clients. This leads to the viewpoints being safe and behind the curve. By the time Wood Mackenzie says something it is so blatantly obvious to everyone that it means nothing. The company has a serious management problem. The analysts are really the only thing holding this place together. Management is totally out of touch and does not even know how to solve simple problems. Maybe this is because upper management is more concerned about someone's race and gender when considering promotions, instead of intelligence. This company is political and corrupt. Secrecy is common when dealing with basic issues that would be open in any other office environment. My manager was routinely rude to me and would single me out for no reason, this was obvious to all of my teammates. I went to HR to discuss what was happening...and I was fired the next day. Clearly, this place is corrupt. Clearly, this place is not concerned about analysts and their development. Who should work here? Wood Mac is not a career destination, it is more of a stepping stone or resume filler, especially for someone without business experience (geologists, engineers, etc.). Working here straight out of school is a big mistake. There is extremely high turnover here, and if your read what I wrote above I think it should be pretty clear why.

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Cons

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3.0
Feb 2, 2026
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Recommend
CEO approval
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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.

1
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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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