“Lululemon Founder Flips the Script on ‘Diversity and Inclusion’!

Lululemon founder Chip Wilson has sparked controversy after criticizing the company’s whole effort towards diversity and inclusion, calling it hollow and insincere. Lululemon, the popular athleisure brand, has long been touting a commitment to diversity and inclusion. However, Chip Wilson, the company’s founder, has now denounced the whole effort as “hollow” and “insincere” in a recent interview with the Vancouver Sun. Wilson, who founded the company in 1998 and still serves on the company’s board, stated “I’m no fan of the diversity and inclusion thing that companies love to do these days,” he said. “That isn’t why a company is successful. We should judge successful companies on whether they make a great product, take care of their shareholders and customers, and if they’re making a profit — the rest is just conversation.” Wilson went on to characterize diversity and inclusion efforts as “a box-ticking exercise” that companies implement “to shut up the mob,” regardless of whether people at the company actually believe in or understand diversity and inclusion or not. The comments have since been met with backlash, with many on social media recounting their personal experiences of feeling ostracized by Wilson’s comments and questioning what impact his opinions are having within the company. Critics view it as indicative of a larger problem—a fundamental misunderstanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Wilson’s opinion is seen by some as a departure from Lululemon’s core mission and from the values the company claims to espouse. This has caused some to question his impact on the workplace culture, both currently and in the future. Despite Wilson’s misgivings about diversity and inclusion initiatives, they have become increasingly common throughout the corporate world. With the trend toward increased accountability scandals—such as the #MeToo movement—diversity and inclusion efforts are increasingly being viewed as essential to cultivating a respected, successful, and ultimately profitable workplace. In summary, Chip Wilson’s comments on diversity and inclusion efforts have sparked controversy and backlash. They have led to questions about the effectiveness of such efforts and the impact of his opinions on workplace culture. While some may question the importance of such initiatives, increasing accountability scandals have made clear that diversity and inclusion efforts are essential to a successful and profitable workplace.