Thread regarding Nike Inc. layoffs

Career growth? With the latest reorg it looks like growth opportunities come in the form of being laid off if you're a top performer or being demoted if you are a leader in an organization that needs the role, but the senior leaders don't think so and believe a manager role is fine for a larger team of leads and seniors.

After all the lay-offs, Vendor Management under Tech has a bunch of Dir and Ldr roles open. Good to see the eliminated positions being out to good use 🤦‍♂️

I left Nike near the end of 2023 as soon as I passed the five year mark and got my "lifetime benefits". Over the previous two years I'd interviewed for numerous Director level positions, but each time was passed up for another person with less experience and and unproven track record. I found this out afterward by talking to Senior Directors familiar with each team. My manager at the time, who was then and still is an awesome person and supervisor (I stay in touch, use them as a reference), told me I was underemployed and significantly underpaid for my talent and results. Unfortunately beyond some milestone bonuses and attempting to get my team's work in front of leadership, there was not much he could do to further my career given the climate and culture.

Many colleagues thought I was kind of crazy for leaving Nike without another job lined up. Luckily I had a big chunk of savings to hold me over, but I knew I wanted to make a switch to another more technical role or functional area within my field. I didn't necessarily care for a more senior position anymore, just wanted something new and different where I could continue challenging myself and learning.

After choosing to take the first 4-5 months off enjoying other things besides work, I began the search for my next job. I optimized my LinkedIn profile to be more attractive to recruiters, and started receiving 5-10 inbound job leads per week. My criteria was 100% remote and no less than 90% of my Nike base salary. Last month, I landed and accepted an offer with another multi-billion dollar revenue company for a one-year contract, making slightly less than at Nike but with tons more flexibility and in a role that I knew I could succeed in, albeit with some ramp up time. It wasn't the most interesting position, but it would be a fantastic bridge to this new work lifestyle.

But then a couple weeks ago, another company's hiring manager reached out to me for an even better opportunity. After five rounds of interviews, I landed and accepted an offer for a full-time position at a fast growing tech company that is also remote with total compensation 100k more than what I earned at Nike. They specifically were attracted to the fact I had experience at Nike but had moved on to another recognizable company, validation of my conviction to take ownership of my career and seek what I knew was missing.

Hard to believe, but wouldn't have been possible if I stayed at Nike.

You need to basically need to push them to promote you here, not uncommon else where. However, I had a job offer on the table. Once I told them they were offering and the timelines, they met majority of the requests. Mostly the fact they couldn’t compete dollar for dollar they did promise me some things and delivered on all of them.

If they (your leadership team) really wants you they’ll counter. If they aren't interested you were always a target for them to cut you regardless of your CFE ratings. The CFE ratings are here to keep you content or to make you think you’re going to get promoted. Reality is, they typically like to source those externally.

So until you force their hands, they’ll give you the song and dance.

Nike does not reward or promote based on merit or skill. It’s a high school social club, if you kiss the right as*es you will do well. If you think the work you do matters & push others to care you will be a pariah

Life is so hard. Please tell me what to do and how bad I should feel about it. Thx

Nope you should quit

We live only once. Don't let your fear holds you back. Fortunately you still have your job at Nike. Refresh your CV and start applying and looking for better jobs. People tend to regret things they have not done more than things they have done.

Hard workers are hardly promoted @flc+1tR7zDyc because you are the backbone of the team and driving the performance that your manager would need to shine. You should stay under your manager so that he can take advantage of you. If you grow or promoted, it does not fot their agenda.

I was in the same position as @hop+1tR7zDyc. High performer with years of accomplishments, liked by my colleagues, presumably doing all the things a person would need to do to see their career advance. Except it didn’t. As if that wasn’t bad enough I had to sit around and watch other people get promoted on a regular basis. Some deserving, some not.

I raised the subject with my manager a few times. There was always some reason as to why “now isn’t the right time”. Instead of getting a promotion what I did get was plenty of additional work. Because my manager knew I’d get it done, it would be good, and I wouldn’t complain.

Since I knew I was being taken advantage of I finally decided I’d either get that promotion or leave. I interviewed at a few places and quickly received two great offers. I accepted one offer and told my manager. Essentially my manager politely told me “We really don’t want to see you leave but yeah, you aren’t getting a promotion in response to this.” That was that and two weeks later a 14 year Nike career ended.

I don’t care what others say, for me deciding to leave was a tough decision. I mostly liked my work, my colleagues, and everything that working at Nike provides. The truth is, working at a profitable Fortune 100 company gives you certain tangible and intangible benefits that aren’t necessarily common at a lot of other employers. Quitting Nike isn’t the same thing as quitting some small or mid-sized local business. I had always told friends and family “Getting a job at Nike is sort of like getting accepted to an Ivy League school. Many thousands apply but only a small percentage get accepted.” Knowing that, voluntarily walking away isn’t easy. All the more so when you’ve invested as many years as I did.

At the end of the day though you have to know your value. I knew I was underpaid relative to the type and amount of work I was doing. I also knew that if I stayed I’d be increasingly resentful and constantly wondering “What if?” I could either accept that fate or do right by myself and quit. So I quit.

It was a good decision. I quickly learned I was in fact being underpaid and overworked at Nike when my new job paid almost 25% more for literally half the amount of work and stress. Honestly if I had known this earlier I wouldn’t have stayed as long as I did.

Do what you need to do OP. Only you can decide what’s right for you.

Look at the recent layoffs we had and not just in April, but in February and late last year. Career growth is clearly possible as long as you don't worry about being someone who delivers real business value. Just spend the next year or two telling the remaining leaders how great they are, "managing" others portfolio's instead of doing any of the real work or delivering any value, and then find time with the VPs and make sure they know you will agree and do everything they want because they have the best idea of what we need to do to turn things around and I'm sure you'll be promoted soon. Looking at where we are at after the RIF, it seems to have worked well for others.

@npu+1tR7zDyc Are you one of these Directors/Senior Directors lurking around and trying to convince and manipulate people about pretending that everything is going well?

@cwc+1tR7zDyc if you are not at Nike, you have no business being here. No need to spread rumors here troll

I was in the same boat. No promotion. No meaningful incentive. No clear path for promotion. I got a new job and walked away. Got promoted and received 30k more than my Nike salary.

In tech, Nike is where careers go to die. Career growth is reserved for those who su-k up to the right ppl. CFEs are a sham. If you execute well, people will come out of the woodwork to take credit for your work.

I am not from Nike. Just wondering how is the general ambiance? In Adidas talented ones are resigning, there are so many farewells.