You can find far more interesting work, competitive pay, and better benefits elsewhere - Business Consultant Mastercard Employee Review

2.0
Jul 28, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Generally smart and motivated peers -New DC office feels appropriate for a software company (others are dated and cramped) -Sports leagues, free food -Casual dress among employees outside of client services (consultants still wear business casual)

Cons

-Very long hours full of unstimulating work -Benefits decreased dramatically as of Jan 1, 2018, to align with parent company Mastercard -Young managers often fail to prioritize the many client requests, leaving constant late nights for BC's full of low-value work - Most employees, including many senior execs who have been around 10+ years, have never worked at another company. Enough said. - Nearly all of the brightest and most well-rounded peers in my class have also left 1-2 years in -Job can feel like glorified tech support, especially when staffed on many "rollout" clients -Aside from learning SQL, I do not feel like I grew meaningfully. I spent much of my time teaching client analysts how to use APT's software, scheduling meetings, and compiling decks full of software screenshots.

Explore other reviews about Mastercard

5.0
May 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great culture. Stable. Analytical and rewarding if you find the right product.

Cons

Slower career growth. Not as influential

4.0
May 27, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Mastercard does a great job fostering an inclusive and supportive environment. There are genuinely good people throughout the organization, and leadership often invests in employee engagement through events, recognition, and culture-building initiatives. I enjoyed many of the relationships I built while working there, and there are teams that truly care about collaboration and supporting one another.

Cons

Compensation at the director level did not feel competitive compared to the level of responsibility expected. Career advancement can also be extremely challenging due to how top-heavy the organization is with senior leadership roles. There are a large number of Senior Vice Presidents, sometimes without clear scope or experience aligned to the title, which creates limited room for high-performing employees to grow. At times, it felt like senior leaders were being hired primarily to manage or communicate with other senior leaders, rather than drive meaningful operational impact. In product and go-to-market roles especially, priorities are often heavily driven by funding decisions. It can be frustrating when projects suddenly shift in importance or remain underfunded for long periods of time while awaiting senior leadership review. This sometimes leaves highly talented employees in limbo, unable to move initiatives forward despite strong momentum or market opportunity. The organization can also be very comfortable with the status quo, which creates a slower pace that many employees seem accustomed to. For people who are highly motivated and eager to drive change, it can feel difficult to navigate the number of roadblocks and layers of approval required to move initiatives forward.

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