I left a good, solid job because I always wanted to work at Nike. That was my dream job. I thought I was going to learn a lot here. However, from the first day I came here, it was clear to me that I would not easily fit into this machine. Whatever I thought I was doing well, it turned out not to be good at Nike. And vice versa. So for two years now I have been confused about how to do things and what is appreciated here. Some will say that it is because I am not a good employee, but I know that there are many other similar experiences, that is, many people who have not been able to adapt to this culture?
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I felt the same before I left Nike for another gig. I was only with Nike a short time (compared to most employees) and felt that I didn't "fit in". I was so eager in the beginning to improve processes and make a difference at Nike, and I learned quickly that Nike doesn't want to change or improve....and if you try to do so, you'll be climbing an uphill battle. Nike is all politics and optics. Learn the game and use Nike as it uses you or search for something that will make you happy. Not worth sticking around if it's not working for you.
McKinsey
So you have someone to blame it on, when it goes wrong, because you do not want to be wrong, and you do not realize that McKinsey knows this, and as it has uniformly smart people, it slowly takes you over and you are gone.
If you're lazy and pawn your work off onto co-workers while cherry-picking your own, you'll fit right in with Global Technology. If you start asking questions and care about resolutions and fixing broken things you'll be under the microscope.
Here's how it typically works at Nike:
- New guy at the top realizes Nike is spending too much outsourcing work (i.e. engineering and creative).
- Everything is brought in-house and Nike hires a bunch of technical and creative people.
- Churn
- The next new guy at the top decides Nike is spending too much money on employees who are "doing nothing".
- Layoffs and then technical and creative work is outsourced.
- Churn.
- The companies Nike outsourced to realize just how easy it is to fleece Nike for $$$$ because of inefficient Nike is run.
- Go back to Step 1.
If you're smart, you will see the writing on the wall and leave Nike for an agency when they start outsourcing, then join Nike when they decide to move everything in-house again.
Being on both sides of the fence (Not being at Nike and Nike), I'd say there is pros and cons of each. If you like structure and knowing what you need to do tomorrow, I'd say probably Nike isn't your cup of tea. We've never been able to say exactly what we want or know which direction to go in. It's kind of a random herd mentality.
However, with that, I haven't been in a company that allows you as much flexibility as this one. That's a pro in Nike's term. So I'd say, if you plan on climbing the ladder here, its going to be tough. There is a lot of competitive people here who are not afraid of being fake to get that big pay increase or seeking glory. However, if you're ok with less than that. You'll probably be happy here, that means you probably aren't as focused on your career but that's fine. Life is more than just money and status.
What you experienced isn’t at all unique to Nike. I had the same experience in reverse. Left Nike in Summer 2020 because I thought I disliked working there and that it was a horrible place. I now work at a different company and long story short, I wish I had never left Nike. Sometimes the grass we think is greener on the other side of the fence…isn’t.
If someone now wants to accuse me of being an HR stooge or consultant then go for it. Won’t change the reality of what I just said.
You're not alone and I've felt the exact same way. Are you technical, by chance? I feel like the company went through a phase where it hired a ton of engineers and technical folks but then had no idea what to do with them. No effort to bring clarity to the unnecessary ambiguity, no development, no mobility (upwards or even laterally). We were both praised for our knowledge and then cussed at/beat down/walked over for striving to make a positive impact on the company by using that knowledge. It's been super weird.