Toxic Culture, Unrealistic Expectations, and a Failing Standard - Anonymous employee Kearney Employee Review

Kearney is struggling with internal fragmentation and cultural inconsistency, as each partner operates independently with little regard for firm-wide alignment. Start dates for new hires have been delayed by 1–2 quarters for the past two years, reflecting deeper issues in planning and resourcing. As client demand has declined, partners have overpromised results, putting unrealistic pressure on junior staff and fostering a toxic work environment—leading many talented individuals to leave. To cut costs, the firm has outsourced core consulting work to low-cost countries, weakening team cohesion and significantly reducing diversity within U.S. project teams.