A lot of the roles that were cut simply weren’t adding enough value to justify their existence. That’s not a personal attack, it’s a structural issue that builds up over time in large organizations.
Layers get added, processes slow down, and before you know it, efficiency takes a back seat to maintaining headcount.
If we’re being honest, there’s likely still a significant amount of inefficiency left in the system. Trimming the obvious excess is one thing, addressing the deeper organizational bloat is another.
Companies like Nike don’t stay competitive by protecting inefficiency. They stay competitive by being sharp, focused, and willing to make difficult decisions even when they’re unpopular.
The real question isn’t whether layoffs are harsh. It’s whether the company is willing to fully align its workforce with the value it actually needs to create.
Right now, it feels like that process is only halfway done. We need more cuts in the business teams as well as tech.