Nike increased women in VP+ roles from 39% to 45% and minorities at Director+ level from 26% to 36% between 2021 and 2025. Considering how few senior leader roles open up each year, that’s a big change in a short time. Has the company become stronger because of it? Would Nike be in an even worse position if it hadn’t invested in DEI?
39 replies (most recent on top)
@10y The people commenting about DEI have been programmed with "simple catchphrase is the root of all my problems" by the conservative propaganda following psychological tactics of control. It's impossible to break through that mental conditioning and get them to see reason within those areas of conditioning, even if they are normal rational people in other areas.
@10h That’s a lazy caricature of DEI. DEI doesn’t say “nothing is your fault”; it says systems and norms can create uneven starting lines. Simply ignoring that doesn’t create accountability — it just protects the people already advantaged. Personal responsibility still matters; DEI just refuses to pretend everyone is playing on a level field.
@10f This makes sense when you think about it… DEI tells people: “You’re not failing because of your own shortcomings. You’re failing because everyone around you is the problem.” It removes personal responsibility.
Companies pushing DEI are negatively correlated with accountability.
@Op no offense some white women LT need to go, often on ego power trips and cant make decisions which is impacting the business. Use proven experience for LT. Nk LT is an upside down top heavy pyramid scheme. A new Ceo would help to, yall see in 2 months.
White men being over represented in the highest income brackets is a sign of systemic inequality, not competence.
@pp as soon as meritocracy was thrown out the window
When did Nike become so hateful? Sad.
Trumptards complaining because overpaid arrogant white men are being laid off LOL
Surprised this Guardian article isn’t getting more attention.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/feb/04/nike-white-employee-discrimination-eeoc
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has launched an investigation into Nike over allegations that the sports giant discriminated against white employees and job applicants.
The information that the EEOC is seeking dates back to 2018, and includes criteria used to select employees for layoffs, information related to the company’s tracking, use of worker race and ethnicity data, and information about “16 programs which allegedly provided race-restricted mentoring, leadership, or career development opportunities”.
@gv DEI = Doing Everything in India
@gv it didn’t start with tech. It started with manufacturing. And this is not new. Capitalism will find the most efficient, nay cheapest way to generate a profit.
Everyone fighting over DEI while jobs are going overseas. It doesn’t stop with tech. It only starts there. Wake up people.
Hiring decisions should not be based on gender or race. It’s mind boggling this still needs to be said.
Well, you can believe in DEI or not, believe it's performative or not, but one thing is certain - the EOCC inquiry will get some facts out in the open and a few heads might even need to roll. I believe the inquiry has the potential to blow up to a much bigger thing. Diversity is definitively a strength, but not diversity over competency. There are significant examples across Nike's org structure where diversity definitely won over competency.
Now, look here. Expectin' folks to use a lick of common sense nowadays is probably askin' for the moon, but I’m gonna lay it out for you anyway.
Bless their hearts, these folks runnin' around pitchin' a fit over this DEI business are actin' plumb foolish, and it don't even matter which side of the fence you sit on. Let's just look at the math on it.
- Scenario A: If they’re wrong, and this whole DEI deal actually does give a fair shake to folks with real talent, then these anti-DEI fellas are just mad as hornets because they finally figured out they ain't the sharpest tools in the shed.
- Scenario B: Now, say they’re right, and it’s all just performative, woke nonsense. Well, then the smart fellas at the top who put it in place clearly look at these complainers as the bottom of the barrel—just some expendable loose change.
So, any way you slice it, these boys are either bottom feeders, fools, or a healthy dose of both.
My advice? They need to smarten up. Either get better at what you do so you actually have some merit to brag about, or get a brain and figure out who's actually pullin' the strings here.
Quit bein' sour at folks just because they're better than you. And if you truly believe they ain't better and just cut the line, then you need to go be mad at the ones who let 'em cut. But for the love of enterprise, stop all this crying about "merit." It’s just whole bunch of BS.
@cp Let’s be specific shall we? Besides EH, who are the “old execs stuck in the 90s?”
Funny how all the id--ts on this board su-king Trumps C*ck are the ones that got laid off. Guess they couldn't do any actual real work.
Bonus targets for VPs doesn’t make Nike’s behavior not performative. They just paid people to be performative. The core business decisions of the company wasn’t run by the people that were hired. Those decisions are still being made by the same old execs stuck in the 90s while they call their customers “consumers”.
@ck Performative? Which part of setting gender and racial hiring targets tied to VP compensation is performative? All Nike VP bonuses over the past five years were linked to hitting DEI targets.
https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2021/03/11/nike-sets-diversity-goals-for-2025-ties-executive-comp-back-to-them.html
Or is this still “boogeywoman” to you?
Oh noes, the DEI boogywoman! So scary! Yes, a lot of companies got reversed DEI efforts, but did so because of the current administration. But so what? Most of those programs were performative anyways. While many companies had DEI programs, very few have fallen like Nike has. Nike is stuck because of terrible products and marketing. Go look at the org chart of who is in charge of product innovation and design. It’s a man and he’s not brown. Take some f*cking accountability and stop blaming women and Black people for systemic incompetence.
Was glad seein DEI exits.
@c9 Nike soft skills:
- avoiding accountability
- never agreeing
- speaking about instead of to each other
- putting self-interest first
- making decisions out of fear
- more
@OP Yes it’s working! As matter of fact, need to keep going until 70% women! They have soft skills which are what’s important to the 21 century! Thats what Nike needs to succeed!
@bv and exactly are you suggesting is the “quiet part?”
Diversity is our strength.
Everyone should be treated equally.
Some, even more equally.
@OP There is a reason most companies have turned their back on DEI after proclaiming earlier it was the most important priority. They will never state it publicly as they’re afraid of the backlash of saying the quiet part out loud.
I’m not sure why you find that hard to believe. Nike publicly reported these numbers. Just google it.
What does it mean that Nike increased women in VP+ roles from 39% to 45% and minorities at Director+ level from 26% to 36% between 2021 and 2025. Are you saying that 45% of VP+ roles at the company were held by women in 2025? And 36% by minorities at Director and above? If so, I find that incredibly hard to believe.
@ab So that's the reason MAGA has been fighting to hide any data, destroy sciences, and ki-l education? Are you high? Conservatives are the party of MY FEELS, not actual facts
Pyramid scheme
Dont forget the guy that signs the paychecks donates hard to the Rebublican Party and medical research for aging brains.
@aa Things have gotten worse in 18 months with any of the LT, it isnt a race thing its finding leaders that can land strategy and make decisions, and stop over spending for costly trips, but typical lets blame JD, when EH is sinking the ship. But he will be out and richer than before his retirement. The company is way overstacked with LT
Haha! What a stupid thought. Must be from Kendi’s school of idiocy. You d-mb people have destroyed our company. The fact that there is anyone who still thinks we haven’t gone far enough leftist/progressive indicates how far the rot went.
Toxicity and fragility Didn’t Earn It (DEI) = we’re f*cked
Yes you are right. DEI is a big reason why Nike failed. But the previous leaders were equally stupid and in their positions because of their race and gender.
We need MEI from top to bottom.
You failed to ask or take note that during those years there was a much bigger change in a CEO! Do your HW
Nothing scares a leftist like an honest question, or reality.
Nike’s leadership gains suggest DEI is doing real work: it’s widening access to decision-making, strengthening talent and perspective, and likely making the company more resilient than it would have been otherwise.
@a3: You poor thing: it must be exhausting discovering equality feels like discrimination when you’ve always had the head start.
Nothing scares a conservative more than change.