Heidi O'Neill, the Nike veteran who knows how to turn around a struggling business

Heidi O'Neill learned early how a business can collapse when an oil crisis reduced consumer spending, leading her family’s sporting goods store to go bankrupt. She attended many schools but continued moving forward, emphasizing comebacks that require heart, will, and courage. On September 8, she will take over as chief executive officer of Lululemon Athletica, a major athleisure brand with over $10 billion in annual revenue and more than 760 stores. She replaces Calvin McDonald while the company faces slumping U.S. sales, share loss to Alo Yoga and Vuori, a stock decline, and a public dispute with founder Chip Wilson. Wilson questioned her appointment, but she responded to employees by saying underestimated people and underestimated Lululemon will be answered by the work.

"Heidi O'Neill, 61, learned before she turned 13 how a business can fall apart. Her parents ran a sporting goods store. When the oil crisis of the 1970s crushed consumer spending, the family went bankrupt and lost the shop. O'Neill attended eight schools in eight years. But they managed to move forward. What I love about my family is they dared for a comeback after a setback. A comeback requires heart and will and courage, and that's what I take with me the most, she told Women's Wear Daily."

"On September 8, the U.S. executive will take over as chief executive officer of Lululemon Athletica, the Canadian brand that practically invented athleisure sportswear designed to be worn beyond the gym and that today generates more than $10 billion in annual revenue with its premium yoga pants and more than 760 stores worldwide. She is replacing Calvin McDonald and inheriting a business in crisis: sales are slumping in the United States, its largest market; it is losing share to younger rivals such as Alo Yoga and Vuori; the stock has fallen by nearly half over five years; and it is engaged in a public feud with its own founder, Chip Wilson."

"Wilson has also questioned O'Neil's appointment: I genuinely hope that Heidi is the right person for Lululemon, but a near 30-year veteran of NIKE, Inc., is not the symbol of transformative, creative-first leadership that can instill shareholder confidence in today's world. O'Neill has not waited to respond. Three weeks after the announcement, she addressed Lululemon employees for the first time in a video. Since the announcement, some people have been underestimating me. Some have been underestimating Lululemon, she said. That's fine. We'll let the work answer."

Read at english.elpais.com