Thread regarding Coupa Software layoffs

CEO Layoff Response

Everyone,

At my first All-Team meeting two weeks ago, I talked about constantly evolving our business to be more responsive, flexible, and durable. One of the items I focused on was how we’re always going to make decisions to put the right talent and right teams in the right places for our long-term success and that of our customers – because this is a company that will go the distance as very few have.

Earlier today, we shared with a number of individuals (about 1% of our overall workforce) that we’re shifting their customer support roles to other global locations for the sake of increased durability of our business. In addition, the adjustments will continue to improve the way we support our customers by allowing us to be always-on; a typical follow the sun model of operating, which is essential to scale.

In addition to this customer support realignment, we eliminated additional roles in order to further drive operational efficiency to further set us up for a durable business (about 2% of our global workforce). These roles were either duplicative, moved to our Partner Ecosystem, or were not required based on the current size of the organization.

We are profoundly appreciative of the journey to ‘here’ and the people who helped us get ‘here.’ To those leaving Coupa, your contribution to this company is not taken for granted and we commit to treating you just as we did as you arrived – fairly, clearly, and kindly.

In future, as we consider adjustments like this one, we will be transparent about them well before we execute on them. They will be part of a plan we all understand holistically, and a plan we collectively believe supports a durable business focused on growth and profitability.

As we dramatically increase the level of clarity around ‘where we are going’ as a company and the transparency therein, you should expect one thing to be constant from here forward – and that’s how we value our people. Equity, fairness, and consistency will always be principles that govern our actions. We look forward to earning your trust on this.

Finally, one thing I am not apologetic for is change. Companies die if they don’t change. We will always change. It’s how good companies become great companies and it will fuel our durable business. It is what will allow us to become what we collectively want – a generational software company.

I will close with two things:

We are all human. I will not commit to staying static, but I will commit to increasing our transparency and clarity about when and how we will change and scale. That is what I owe each one of you – those that will leave us to work elsewhere, those who work here, and those who don’t yet work here.

I am profoundly grateful for your resilience, faith and belief in what we can and will become.

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| 6261 views | | 13 replies (last December 10, 2023) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1pP9LYL6

13 replies (most recent on top)

As someone who got laid off in the first round, I can tell you this statement is 100% BS

’ To those leaving Coupa, your contribution to this company is not taken for granted and we commit to treating you just as we did as you arrived – fairly, clearly, and kindly.`

We had to fight with HR for months to get things done. Things were constantly messed up, mistakes were made, no follow-throughs/communication. Completely unnecessary. Maybe they will apply all the mistakes they did on us, to make those that got laid off better. Either way, keep your expectations low. It was truly an unforgettable and miserable experience.

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Post ID: @bnbl+1pP9LYL6

Never seen such a useless executive team. Mark Morgan driving a sinking ship & taking his shipmates with him

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Post ID: @8mhn+1pP9LYL6

What made Coupa, Coupa, is bring erased as fast as the new overlords can do it. Anyone with years of tenure is being booted, in favor of building a new soulless company. Post-apocalyptic Coupa is a fearful place to work (if folks actually are and aren’t just out looking for new jobs). All the smoke being blown up folks’ butts won’t change that.

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Post ID: @8aia+1pP9LYL6

He's a Buzzword Bingo player's wet dream.

Love when they take a brief moment to say they value people, when every other word treats them as a resource to be culled and managed at their whims.

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Post ID: @7rwm+1pP9LYL6

These executives are the root cause of all the economic problems the middle class faces. They're all the same, pasty old fu--s wearing business casual button-ups and sport coats.

This particular pasty old fu-k is J. Charles Goodman, who lives in Jackson, Wyoming.

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Post ID: @7mlh+1pP9LYL6

Really need to get rid of all these lazy Corp welfare upper crust need to scam workers to afford to live beyond their means because "muh Lambo need gas".

Lazy good for nothing turds, that get carried on the working classes back and we give them all the answers too. Real tough job to sit in a office with assistants that wipe your stank and all the workforces below crunching the numbers to the time it makes it to the CEO, execs a five year old could be provided the information and make the same choice... Lol

Wake up folks we don't need any of these people pandemic proves how useless they are and how lazy they are.

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Post ID: @7wdo+1pP9LYL6

What an a--hole.m!

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Post ID: @6kpd+1pP9LYL6

How did Coupa with TB leadership became the epitome of american, equity based entrepreneurship - minus lack of understanding of EBITDA based steering?
With any ethics, values and collaboration abandoned, everyone sleeps under the guillotine: Better check your neck after waking up!
Good luck Coupa rebuilding trust to the team.
For a more entertaining approach to understand the behinds, check the BtB podcast "Jack Welch Is Why You Got Laid Off".

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Post ID: @2waw+1pP9LYL6

Step into that way back machine to 10 years ago.

Way better company to work for. Been going one way since. Downhill. And accelerating the entire way.

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Post ID: @1wsd+1pP9LYL6

Coupa, your contribution to this company is not taken for granted and we commit to treating you just as we did as you arrived – fairly, clearly, and kindly.

AN EMAIL WITH AN HOURS NOTUCE THAT YOU DONT HAVE. AJOB AT CHRISTMAS. DISGRACEFUL.

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Post ID: @1jza+1pP9LYL6

At least this time, the percentages were given.

Still weird. My favourites:
"In future, as we consider adjustments like this one, we will be transparent about them well before we execute on them."

  • > Why only in future, not this time?
  • > Teasing that there will be many more rounds of layoffs, wonderful

"They will be part of a plan we all understand holistically"

  • > All the next times when we have layoff rounds, we will tell you before, and you'd better be happy about it.
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Post ID: @1noz+1pP9LYL6

Yes great changes!
2 weeks into the job and you fired my mentor!

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Post ID: @xta+1pP9LYL6

I have faith in Coupa dying despite the various changes.

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Post ID: @rrj+1pP9LYL6

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