Thread regarding 2U Inc. layoffs

Lmao if you knew wtf you were talking about I gaurnetee you'd be in a position to help them. Why don't you just chill and move your mouse around so people think your actually doing something all day ...

When I was at 2u, at least 1/3rd of my colleagues ding do-g ditched LOL. The only thing you have to do to be successful is the absolute bare minimum.

And yet Powerful enough to turn your ape brain into mush over this notion!?!?

That, my friend, IS the very definition of POWER.

Admissions Wins, hands down....as always!

There are a lot of uneducated people in here. I'll be very clear.... ADMISSIONS IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS YOU THINK. YOU'RE A CALL CENTER AND ARE LUCKY TO HAVE ANY VOICE (oh wait you don't). WHAT YOU DO IS EASY AND YOU ARE VERY REPLACEABLE by anyone lol. Some of the d-mbest people at the org are in admissions....top to bottom. ICs, a lot of you are lazy and to be honest are awful at your jobs... Your managers and directors....no different. You'll complain and fail elsewhere too and blame everyone but your lazy habits.

Post ID: @1oif+1pD2IkoB - Admissions is pretty much the be all/end all of the business, but we still make room in our hearts for the less important parts of the org!

Are you still here? The movie’s over go home!

Not disputing any higher level concerns w leadership salaries/bonuses OR that we need to see action not just talk from our new CEO. I was responding specifically to this poster who centered admissions as the solution and named a lot of unsustainable old 2u strategies as the fix when those strategies were for an extremely different stage in the company vs where we are now I am not at the level you probably think I am- nor are people able to make significant change that goes against the direction of the CEO - though folks are trying every day. I would love all ICs at all public companies to get 8% raises every year (encourage you to do some research as to how much that happens at even the most successful of companies as well as how much admissions advisors at colleges are paid). I’m just saying that, along with a similar lack of focus on profitability vs growth from the top, the “hey day” for the whole company was not sustainable for a company to be profitable. Period. And admissions is not the be all and end all of 2u (no one is). I just wish people would bother to do research before spouting off like they know all the things. The idea that no one in leadership is paying attention to conversions and trying to find and fill gaps is laughable. They just aren’t throwing blind money and more bodies at it like the “good old days” bc that is NOT a sustainable business - at ANY level of the org.

Ge-z. 2U takes up a lot of real estate in all of your minds. Like move on already...the deep dives are ridiculous. No one is looking to this forum for business advice. You all sound like pent up gamers. Go get laid.

Post ID: @1uaz+1pD2IkoB, where you placed the magnifying glass @ all of the spending, back in the day, is quite telling!!!!

You stated:

"Again- this was when 2u was new, exciting and when the company was willing to spend ANYTHING to keep leads coming in, give scholarships and spend money on fixed 8% raises a year for admissions - "

But, you conveniently forgot to place the magnifying glass on the Biggest Budget Buster of them all...that being the Fat, Huge, Ginormous, Massive Salaries+Bonus'+Option - taken by the entire C Suite, VP's, Sr. Management....and so on down the line (up to a distinct point)!

So, you'd rather attack those 8% raises provided to a sector of the company whose salaries were otherwise not only amongst the very lowest paid in the company, but whose sweat was not able to be fully recognized, via commission, because the laws @ admission/SALES dictate the inability to receive direct commission - as a result of their DIRECT SALES efforts?!

You're slick!

Post ID: @1uaz+1pD2IkoB, to quote you "maybe," indeed!?

But whether your perspective is spot on or those of the other(s), whose views you seem to so staunchly discredit fully explain what'd really occurred-who really cares?

Talk is as cheap as 2u stock nowadays!

Reality - Today, this company is an atrocity!!!
Reality -Those who Had been around for awhile and coulda/woulda/shoulda done something to prevent this place from coming to this (sounds like you may be in this category)......Didn't!!!

and last, but not at all in the least.....

Most folks don't care about the new CEO's words....we care about the results of the actions!

@kgl+1pD2IkoB But you didn’t though. You said you had advice for Paul to fix “the business” not admissions. 70% of degree’s revenue is from retaining and graduating students, not just getting them in the door. The company is a lot more than admissions. Also- to whoever said that Gab was responsible for our 100 stock price - you have no idea how the business or the market works. Again- this was when 2u was new, exciting and when the company was willing to spend ANYTHING to keep leads coming in, give scholarships and spend money on fixed 8% raises a year for admissions - interestingly coinciding with a period where the company was being looked at for growth (based on its age) and not profitability bc all the angel investors were all over us and all the market cared about was growth (just like they did with we work at one point). They got rid of Gab and brought some financial business sense to the department - but without moving on from Chip too, there was only so much possible. Also- many conversions for degree programs continue to be very strong. But leads are down - partially bc of market dynamics but also bc spend on paid leads has been cut drastically to focus more on ROI of dollars spent. These were decisions made by demand gen and finance based on Chip’s belief in how quickly the edX “fly wheel” would benefit us as well as at least some sound direction of just not always throwing cash at things. These were not decisions made in SE. Even if you are, as you claim, just speaking in your “lane” - you have kept yourself and your business awareness far too siloed in admissions to be able to speak to the realities of past events or of future best steps. None of this info is secret or confidential - and it has been out there for you to learn about if you sought it out. Maybe now we have a CEO who also will talk about reality.

Perhaps if I can't ed-a-bu-cate you- clueless one-" - you'll allow the rest of human society do so.

Step 1: Brace yourself!

Step 2: Conduct an internet search ---Hint: Type : "are sales the most important part of a business?"

Step 3: Go get a bite to eat...you seem dizzy! I hear crow is especially good in your area.

The likes of YooooUUUUU is the reason why this place tanked!

Just! So! 'tupid!!

Ironically, I did stay in my lane and gave feedback on the department that I am experienced in, that I believe could improve the business.

If we all took the approach of offering feedback vs pointing fingers, and departments started working together, we could achieve profitability (or at least a stock that is above a dollar)

Marketing can't convert without admissions, admissions can't sustain students without student success, students can't take classes without tech, etc.

Although thank you highlighting connection culture is not working... we should simply get back to our unique function with the goal of helping students complete online programs that help reach their goals.

This has as much hubris as “the titanic is unsinkable”

Admissions =$ales
Low/No Sales = Lo$$es

But if you need more of a litmus test, go ahead and redesign 2u. Fix everything thing else and create a business model that focuses solely on sustains the current students (be it bootcamp, degree..) with absolutely Zero recruitment to bring in more students. All ( and I do mean ALL) of the other departments @ 2u would be superfluous!

Therefore, "fixing Admissions Will indeed fix the problem..."

That's assuming 2u is not so completely corroded that it can be fixed!

That's also assuming that they get rid of simpletons like you along the way!

Dogs, your almost 4 years at the helm have been abominable! ABOMINABLE!! Ok!!

At least Gab, who'd grown the department from nothin to something valued at nearly $100/share, reflected an era of leader$hip in Admission that was 2u at its very Fine$t!

It appears you have only one part of the equation correct, when you state that there were "unsustainable financial choices."

They were made by Chip, who'd decided it was now time to pivot 2u into "All Me, No U" organization. That's when it seems he started over -promising a gazillion new programs, started over -hiring people to work these gazillion promised programs...that's the timeframe that he'd boasted about the mentors in his life--namely/ most notoriously, Adam of We Works. He seemed to be following game plans that appeared to be pure garbage and dark business!

So, while Dobs did take over at the timeframe of admissions starting to become a hot mess, his lack of knowledge in this arena took that hot mess and lit it on fire.

And that's how that went!

was this generated by AI?

Dobbs and Brad have been, for years, trying to clean up messes and unsustainable financial choices made by Gab and Chip. While still ultimately reporting into Chip and having to manage that relationship to get anything done at all. The fact that we brought in a lot of enrollments for PART of the time Gab was head of admissions was not about skill. It was about the market, us being new and fresh, no need to be profitable (i spend as much as humanly possible on lead gen). This is the truth. Not a defense. There is a lot about it previous leadership (even now) that it is not professional to speak to (or legal based on contracts). Your 1 lane or the company understanding is missing a ton of key data.

Dobbs has to go. No way around it.

I was never in admissions, but 2U is toxic.

If you get promoted and become a “manager”, you become toxic.

There is no alternative.

Anyone who stays at 2U goes through this process. I saw it happen with a former manager who lucked into a promotion.

Initially they say: I won’t be like other managers.

But, they have no choice or voice.

I don’t feel sympathy for any folks in people manager positions at this company.

I simply can’t.

You get gaslit and abused… then you get promoted and continue the cycle?

Take your layoff time off to reflect on your behavior.

You were probably part of the problem, OP, especially if you’re looking to get rehired to a people manager position.

Classic admissions superiority complex

The folly in thinking that fixing admissions will fix this problem. Clearly you're in admissions and don't know anything other than that. Stay in your lane and maybe focus on training your own team and getting your house in order.

In all honesty, the poster know Exactly what they're talking about.
The single disagreement @ the plan is the requirement to " train Dobs..."

At the level of "leadership" that he was tasked to, the fact that he doesn't know - but was not only offered the job, but then remained in the position - is a direct indictment against Chip and Dob's lack leadership capabilities!

Wow you’re a genius. Maybe you should be CEO