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Stanford University

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Bad leadership - Development Officer Stanford University Employee Review

1.0
7 Jun 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Stanford benefits nice office and great brand

Cons

Leadership is pretty bad in the development office. Head is neurotic and since we moved to Redwood City everyone is miserable. Do not recommend joining this group

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Stanford University Response
6y
Thank you for your honest feedback. I am sorry to learn about your experience and would like to know more about how we can improve as a team. Holly Villar, our Executive Director, Strategic Management for Office of Development is interested in speaking with you directly about your experience, and will keep your conversation confidential, if you would like to reach out to her.

Explore other reviews about Stanford University

5.0
22 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good healthcare benefits, cost covered by departments

Cons

Very high COL for the stipends - many students spend >60% of salary on rent.

4.0
19 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Overall, Stanford is an amazing place to work. The environment and benefits can't be beat. You can go for a swim on your lunch break or a walk around the lake. The recreational classes and opportunities are usually great. Eating at the dining hall, although pricy, is a real treat.

Cons

If you're not senior management, faculty, development, etc., Stanford's pay has not kept up with the cost of living in the area. If you come for a job from outside of California, be prepared for a real shock when you see the kinds of rentals and the prices. Beauty has a price. You will not be able to live near campus as the average employee. Unless you're really familiar with the traffic in California, don't look at places that you think are an hour away, because they'll be two hours away by car. And you'll have to pay to park on campus, so not driving at all is your best option. Many administrative jobs are held by partners of people working in tech or faculty, because that's the only way you can afford to live there. If you don't have a partner making $200K+, you'll be taking the train or bus for an hour. If you're thinking about buying a house and you don't have a suitcase of cash, that sound you're hearing is my laughter. It's also important to realize that the working conditions across campus vary by unit. Working at the Graduate School of Business will seem more like a corporate job; working in Medicine could be brutal; and the treatment you will get can vary by department.

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