The passion that used to drive this brand feels like it’s been swapped out for corporate checkboxes and hollow slogans. Remember when people actually believed in the "just do it" spirit? Now it’s just clock in, chase metrics, and hope you don’t get caught in the next reorg. Good luck selling culture reboot when nobody even pretends to care beyond their paycheck anymore.
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Nike used to stand for innovation, community, and the people who built the brand from the ground up. But that soul, the heart and grit behind the swoosh has been gutted.
In the waves of layoffs since 2020 Nike let go of the very people who carried its legacy: the ones with 15, 20, even 30 years of experience. Those who helped shape its culture, voice and dominance. And now what’s left? A power-hungry, title-chasing org chart filled with people more interested in self-promotion than brand elevation.
The most heartbreaking part? Seeing posts from those responsible for this shift (HON) writing emotional goodbyes while quietly dismantling others’ legacies. It’s hard to celebrate “26 years of memories” when you played a hand in erasing so many more.
Nike started losing its way the day JD took the helm. Since then, the real talent has left and they’ve gone on to fuel success at competitors. The spark that once made Nike unstoppable isn’t just dimming, it’s gone. And sadly, the swoosh may never get it back.
Absolutely agree with @a3+1jsyh5et8. We've lost the respected leaders we once admired. We used to believe that being a good people person with strong performance guaranteed success in Nike and with that spirit, we had many exceptional leaders. But now that principle no longer holds. Today, we see ineffective leaders(just given, not earned) focused solely on their own career advancement. I've never witnessed a company with such leadership succeed in its business.
What happens when promotions and role appointments are determined by the Victim Olympics.
Those of us who’ve moved on from Nike that are making more money and actually like our jobs — are looking back and laughing at you sheep still at subpar company that doesn’t care if you live or die. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!
No company has a soul. What is the purpose of a public company?
Everybody complaining here needs to remember, nothing Nike does actually matter besides increasing share holder value. Any thing else is extra, included “feeling valued” you snowflake
Nike hasn’t been special since prior to 2013. When we exploded in terms of stock price from 13-15, everyone was jumping on board because the money was flowing. Now times are tough, it’s not easy getting what you want.
What we have now is soft people, that’s all that remains, no drive to be better. Waiting to be told what to do. Sure, DEI caused a little bit of this but people got lazy after Covid and everyone is out of shape (work wise).
Just DEI it!
Nike is no longer special. This is what happens when you hire and promote people who don’t deeply care about the product or brand and are more focused on their own career advancement, consolidation of power, or protecting their own evaluations. Today’s leaders are a shadow of those from the past and an exodus of current leaders is needed for an effective culture reset.