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Pathfinder International

Is this your company?

Grieve for what was an incredible organization - Anonymous employee Pathfinder International Employee Review

1.0
Oct 15, 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

For 60 years, Pathfinder had pioneered in health and rights, and in its commitment to quality and bravery. Pathfinder would engineer new frontiers for women and communities and back it up in word and deed. We delivered for those most in need.

Cons

What began as a well intentioned re-org was quickly co-opted by someone in leadership who proported to be acting in the best interests of others but who has since demonstrated she is solely out for her own gain. With the guise of open collaboration and respect for honest exchange of ideas, the leader of this re-org used staff's willingness to believe in her to gain information that she then used to identify those who voiced ideas that differed from her own, and then set out to have them removed. When the new CEO arrived and freely added her own agenda (also not in the best interest of the organization) to this stage, things became dark quickly. Within the departments in headquarters where most of the knowledge and insight into programming existed, nearly every person with long standing institutional health and rights knowledge has now been fired, layed off, or forced out. This is not only a horrible sadness for those who have long loved and lived for Pathfinder, it is a sadness for development. In the current international climate, strong, smart, and brave voices are needed to keep development moving in a direction that truly benefits women and communities. This CEO and the leader of the re-org in Human Resources have snuffed out that voice. It is up to the country reps to save Pathfinder now. The board is clearly not paying attention.

Explore other reviews about Pathfinder International

5.0
Mar 27, 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Pathfinder has been around since 1957, and it has been able to continually attract technically sound and dynamic staff to help promote and deliver rights-based programming in sexual and reproductive health and economic development, especially focused on women. In the past few years, it has taken steps to decentralize operations, establishing regional offices for Africa and Middle East/Asia and supporting greater functional autonomy for regional and country office staff.

Cons

On the other hand, during the past years, Pathfinder International has re-organized itself at the headquarters level multiple times, leading to some level of confusion and unease. Additionally, as with other non-profit organizations, it is currently beset with funding problems, given the near-shuttering of USAID, a primary donor for Pathfinder programming. While it has been trying to broaden its source for revenue from other sources, income levels have been dropping, and culling of staff has become necessary.

1.0
Aug 20, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Key strengths of the organization include its attractive compensation in order to recruit talented staff and a compelling mission that resonates with employees.

Cons

The company is executive-centric, showing loyalty to leadership while neglecting prudent financial management. The company has challenges with employee retention.

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