Come for the mission, stay for the people
Pros
There is a high level of individual drive and motivation which makes the work very rewarding. "Mission-driven" is a term you will hear often, from the CEO to the Board to new staff. The message is backed up through the organization's actions on the ground, and there is deep pride in the work being accomplished. Collaboration is key to everyone's job. Most assignments entail working across teams and leadership levels, and often with staff in regional offices in Africa or Latin America. You have to be able to get outside your silo and be eager to work with different personalities, cultures, and stakeholders. Most people have such a niche role that there isn't the sense that you have to compete for promotions, projects, or accolades. For the most part, staff have autonomy in their work (not too many micromanagers). Annual goals are set after a yearly performance review early in the year. Managers are asked to have quarterly meetings to check on the progress of your annual objectives, and for you to give upwards feedback to them. Work pressure varies depending on whether your stakeholders are internal or external. Those who are mostly externally facing (working with clients, donors, investors, the industry) have higher stakes. The organization also features strong leaders who believe in the mission to their core, who motivate others with their conviction, and who mentor others through skill and knowledge sharing. There is growing interest in strengthening management skills and encouraging leadership opportunities across the organization, though there wasn't yet a comprehensive strategy or common practice around this. As the organization grows, staff roles are becoming more specialized and aligned with the financial services and banking professions. Root attracts incredibly bright, interesting, globally-minded people. Some of the best minds and hearts you'll ever come across. The ambiance is very collegial, open, and casual, but fueled by big ideas and an intensity to over-deliver given what is at stake. What keeps staff going in Cambridge is the unique team culture, high spirits, and a sense of commitment to your team and staff.
Cons
Newcomers tend to be drawn by the mission of alleviating rural poverty through agricultural development, and may compromise on salary or job grade to enter the sector. Since Cambridge is the global HQ (there are a dozen regional offices scattered around the globe), you are physically far removed from the work on the ground. Some roles involve travel to the field, but being a nonprofit, Root is conscientious about its budget and whether staff travel is necessary for the business at hand. Root is also susceptible to the chronic nonprofit issue of often being understaffed. Many are quickly given more responsibility and work than anticipated. This allows you to learn and grow beyond your expectations. Most staff feel valued, if overworked. This can also lead to longer work days and burn-out unless you learn to reign it in and you have your manager's support in balancing your workload. A career path is hard to carve since it is a small to mid size staff (~60 in Cambridge), but there is regular turnover. There is no formal mentoring program, but if you have the self-initiative to seek someone out for advice, they will be happy to give you guidance. It can be difficult to know how to distinguish yourself among a collection of highly motivated and intellectually nimble people, unless your manager advocates for leadership and growth opportunities for you. Since its core business is financial services and agriculture, the organization's financial health can be sensitive to exogenous events in the commodities market or crop production -- despite hard work and achievements within the organization.
