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First Street Foundation

Is this your company?

Insensitive, oblivious leadership - Anonymous employee First Street Foundation Employee Review

2.0
20 Sept 2021
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Some great people work(ed) there, and employees have the ability to be autonomous and make an impact through their work.

Cons

This is a place to avoid for anyone who cares about a healthy culture and fair compensation. There is a general lack of curiosity and compassion from leadership, which creates a toxic environment for most of those who aren't in lead positions. The CEO's way of speaking is domineering, ostentatious and complacent, often leaving no room for open dialogue and critique. Most work gets done in a rushed manner, due to leadership's impatience and lack of awareness. Subsequently, several coworkers burnt out and leadership completely failed to address these issues, even when pointed out. This denialism, conflict-aversion, and insensitivity is so rooted in the CEO's behavior that the chances are low that things will get better. In a survey conducted by an external expert, half of the employees answered that they couldn't truly be themselves at work. The irony is that leadership does not live up to the values they supposedly promote (fun, inclusivity, impact, integrity). On the contrary, the workplace's spirit is quite the opposite. As a result of these issues, the turnover rate is very high: in less than a year, 10 people left, out of a team of 30. The environmentalist mission also ends up being a masquerade for more capitalistic interests by partnering mostly with insurances and banks, which the CEO speaks so proudly talk about. On top of all of this, the compensation is MUCH lower than market rates, and the inequality of pay between leaders and employees is once again a testament of their sense of entitlement.

Explore other reviews about First Street Foundation

5.0
1 May 2024
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Impactful organization with a “small but mighty” history - Mission driven with products that are changing the market (both b2b and b2c) - Growing quickly with new funding – plenty for room for individuals to come in and tackle exciting new projects & challenges - Comprised of intelligent and driven individuals who are passionate about their work and create a positive workplace, despite working on an issue that can sometimes be bleak

Cons

- Like other start-ups, First Street is moving quickly. This means there can be tight deadlines and the hours can ebb and flow to meet those challenges. But, overall work-life-balance is still better here than other organizations that I have worked for

1.0
17 Jan 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The tchnical team at the firm is amazing... really smart, easy to work with, and super dedicated to tackling the link between climate issues and financial risks. They’re strong in all the technical areas, and yes, First Street work is needed... BUT....

Cons

Zero Transparency: You’re always kept in the dark about the real state of the business. The all-hands meetings are bs The PTO Policy is a Joke: They basically force you to limit vacations to 5 days. They’d rather you take a random afternoon here and there than an actual week off to recharge. "Startup Speed" is an Excuse: Leadership constantly says "we move fast," but it just means rushing out unvalidated products that aren't ready. Despite the chaos, there’s no actual growth to show for it and the ARR certainly isn’t reflecting the "speed." Toxic Leadership: The CEO is pretty arrogant, and for a fact, I know doesn't care about feedback. The strategy changes whenever a potential client asks for something new, leaving the company feeling lost... and team members feeling disconnected with firm's direction and goals. Management is stingy; the food they advertise consists of weekly breakfasts (bagels with schmear), which only cost around four dollars, and team lunches once per quarter, which are generally pizza. No Job Security: Again, feedback culture is non-existent. You’ll get compliments one day and be fired the next. A culture of fear and uncertainty prevents employees from doing their best, as they are too fearful and only do what they are instructed. Overall: It’s an exhausting environment where everyone is on edge. You basically have to spend your energy "pleasing" the CEO just to survive. Not worth the burnout.

6
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