VF Reviews

-Highly political with self-serving leaders. -Constant tension between the brands and the corporate center with no clear roles and responsibilities, no accountability, and lots of pet projects that distract from any form of corporate or brand strategy. -In terms of talent one of two things happened during my time: 1) great talent was recruited from good companies like Nike, P&G, or Tier 1 management consulting, but their talent was squandered by throwing them into fiefdoms, with unclear objectives, or 2) sharp-elbowed talent was brought in by inept leaders to build up their own kingdoms - which just caused infighting and wasted a bunch of time. -It's surprisingly hard to move across brands. -Any focus on the consumer is just lip service; decisions are made based on what's good for me and my career, not what's best for the consumer or the company. -They really lost their way around 2017/2018 and are still dealing with the implications. The former CEO made a few very bad decisions (including a couple very bad hires and promotion decisions) that still linger. -There's not a lot of deliberate development/rotational programs that allow you to grow and get new experiences

So I joined VF in 2021 with a lot of excitement. My first American company and was hoping to live the American dream through them but what a disappointment. Promised me a role which they did not deliver to! It was fine, new set up so I gave them a chance. I was pregnant in a few months and my boss went around telling people that she doesn't expect me to come back. I would leave. They passed my whole maternity leave without a backup for me and when I had like a month left to come back, they realised they couldn't manage the workload and needed someone internal to take up my portfolio. Favourtisim to its zenith. Because of my race I had been an outcast in my team and my boss was pretty much aware because I know people told her but she did nothing to support or help me fit in. So all the DIVERSITY and EQUITY stuff is for the ppts. No SUPPORT for a returning mother but more isolations. I had to leave for my mental sanity and I actually think my boss was quite happy as she didn't think a pregnant lady would perform after having a child. Also my boss was a women and head of whatever WOVEN. People in Singapore and Malaysia are overloaded because there are so many directors who just sit there and play tennis. No one is problem solving to take things ahead. You will be in good books only if you are a yes man! I would not recommend joining them in Asia.