The depth and breadth of the toxic leadership in the NY office is staggering.
For a "One Firm Firm" culture, the range of experiences one can have in each studio is so varied and skews towards the negative end of the spectrum. There are very few studio directors that actually care for their teams and provide professional development opportunities for all vs. a select few.
Staffing is based on the lowest billing rate, not the person who is most suited for the project.
Mediocre, formulaic design is pumped out at a frantic pace to clients, many of whom end up switching design firms after their initial experience.
Big lack of diversity in leadership. While there are a number of women leading the NY office, most have sacrificed way more than their male counterparts to get to their positions.
Success at Gensler is for the anointed. Proving your loyalty is a never-ending effort and you always have to keep an eye out for someone willing to step over you to achieve glory.