Latest news with #corporate
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Lululemon Is Cutting 150 Corporate Jobs
Lululemon Athletica Inc. is changing up part of its organizational structure, resulting in about 150 job cuts at its corporate headquarters. The impacted employees are part of the yoga-inspired apparel firm's store support centers. More from WWD Beyond Yoga Puts Lululemon and Athleta on Notice With Bigger Store Format Revenue Rises at Lululemon in Q1, CEO Calvin McDonald Bullish Despite Cautious U.S. Consumer Why TikTok Can't Stop Talking About Lululemon's 2-in-1 Dress and Its Styling Frenzy With Shoes: The $148 Debate, Explained 'As we continue to deliver on our strategy, we regularly assess our business operations to ensure we are well-positioned for the future. Following a recent review, we have decided to evolve some aspects of our organizational structure to operate with more agility and further invest in our growth,' a Lululemon company spokesperson said, confirming media reports of the layoffs. 'This is not a decision we made lightly, and we are committed to supporting our employees through this transition.' Despite first-quarter revenue gains, investors earlier this month were spooked when Lululemon chief executive officer Calvin McDonald warned that U.S. consumers were being more cautious in their spends. That sent shares of Lululemon down 22 percent to $258 in after-hours trading on June 5. Shares of the apparel firm have fallen further, and Wednesday's close was down 2.8 percent to $228.65. While the company did provide second-quarter guidance — net revenue in the range of $2.54 billion to $2.56 billion — and kept its top-line forecast for the year, Lululemon did cut its earnings per share to a range of $14.58 to $14.78, down from its earlier forecast of $14.95 to $15.15 in March. BMO analyst Simeon Siegel noted that the updated EPS forecast market the 'first' fiscal-year EPS lowering in the first quarter since fiscal-year 2014. 'We continue to see Lululemon as a strong, but overstretched, brand and worry about long-term domestic revenue sizing,' he said. UBS softlines analyst Jay Sole has shares of Lululemon at 'neutral.' 'A pivotal Lululemon question is if the slowdown in its U.S. business over the last 12-plus months has been temporary, driven by one-off factors, or a sign of something more fundamental. Our main takeaway from Lululemon's 1Q report is the likelihood that something more fundamental is at play has increased,' he wrote in a note. Sole also said the U.S. could slow down in the back half of this year due to the impact of tariffs on consumer spending, and he said that there's also risk that Lululemon's 'China sales growth rate decelerates, too.' This year, the company signed British race car driver Lewis Hamilton as brand ambassador, and in April teamed with the Professional Women's Hockey League for an inaugural collaboration that spotlighted fan-favorite Lululemon designs. Best of WWD Harvey Nichols Sees Sales Dip, Losses Widen in Year Marred by Closures Nike Logs $1.3 Billion Profit, But Supply Chain Issues Persist Zegna Shares Start Trading on New York Stock Exchange Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
News.com.au
13 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Amazon staff fire up after CEO Andy Jassy drops artificial intelligence bombshell
The boss of tech giant Amazon has just said the quiet part out loud about what artificial intelligence advancements means for the workforce – and employees are not happy. CEO Andy Jassy, who took over from founder Jeff Bezos in 2021, dropped a bombshell on employees, revealing he expects the rise of generative AI to 'reduce' Amazon's corporate workforce over the coming years. The warning was part of a recent memo shared on the company's website, in which he talks about how, as the company 'leans into' generative AI services, it will 'change the way our work is done'. 'We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today, and more people doing other types of jobs,' Ms Jassy wrote. 'It's hard to know exactly where this nets out over time, but in the next few years, we expect that this will reduce our total corporate workforce as we get efficiency gains from using AI extensively across the company.' Do you have a workplace story you want to share? Contact Amazon's corporate workforce is estimated to include around 350,000 people, with the company's total workforce totalling more than 1.5 million workers. The tech company already has more than 1000 generative AI services and applications in progress or being built, with the CEO stating this represents just a 'small fraction' of what they ultimately want to create. Mr Jassy encouraged staff to be 'curious' about AI and to educate themselves on the technology, suggesting they use it to figure out 'how to get more done with scrappier teams'. The bold statement that the company plans to cut jobs in line with technology advancements, unsurprisingly, hasn't gone down too well with Amazon employees. Dozens of messages, reviewed by Business Insider, sent on internal Slack channels allegedly showed staff up in arms following the memo. Many staff members reportedly pushed back, saying the company should be viewing AI as a way to aid productivity rather than downsizing the workforce. 'We need to lead the change in reframing AI as partners (even teammates or colleagues) rather than AI as replacements or tools. It's a slightly different vision than the one Andy alludes to,' one person wrote, according to the publication. In a sarcastic jab, another reportedly said that there was nothing more inspiring than reading that a person's role might be replaced by AI within a few years. One employee branded the focus on cost cutting over customer satisfaction 'dangerous', claiming it could have 'real consequences'. Other sentiments included concerns around using headcount cuts to measure success and the potential ramifications of relying too much on AI. It comes as the head of one of the world's most powerful artificial intelligence labs recently warned the technology could eliminate half of all entry-level, white-collar jobs within the next five years. Anthropic chief executive officer Dario Amodei told CNN's Anderson Cooper that politicians and businesses are not prepared for the spike in unemployment rates AI could prompt. 'AI is starting to get better than humans at almost all intellectual tasks, and we're going to collectively, as a society, grapple with it,' the 42-year-old said. 'AI is going to get better at what everyone does, including what I do, including what other CEOs do.' Anthropic's AI can work nearly seven hours a day, he said, and has the skills typically required of entry-level corporate workers – 'the ability to summarise a document, analyse a bunch of sources and put it into a report, write computer code' – at the same standard 'as a smart college student'. Amazon's new memo isn't the only AI-related announcement from a major company in recent months that has sparked concern. In March, Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke told staff that they would now be expected to prove why certain jobs can't be done using AI. 'Before asking for more Headcount and resources, teams must demonstrate why they cannot get what they want done using AI,' he said. 'What would this area look like if autonomous AI agents were already part of the team? This question can lead to really fun discussions and projects.' The bold announcement was included in an internal memo sent by Mr Lutke, with the CEO then sharing it to his own social media after hearing that it was 'being leaked' and 'presumably shown in bad faith'. The lengthy memo also stated that the use of AI was a 'fundamental expectation of everyone at Shopify', with Mr Lutke also stating AI usage questions would be included in performance and peer review questionnaire. The CEO's email has gained widespread attention, with responses split between praise for embracing new technology and horror at seemingly encouraging the replacement of jobs by AI. One respondent branded the CEO's position as 'cold and lacking empathy to humans', while another claimed they would resign on the spot if their employer sent out this type of directive. Others questioned why the onus should be on the staff to prove the role can't be done by AI, rather than on the company to prove that AI can do a better job than a human. There were also concerns about what this type of mindset meant for graduates who are just entering the workforce and would likely be going into the types of roles the company is encouraging staff to use AI to complete. One person said that, while they believe encouraging AI is the right path, it was 'just a scary one' as it leads to less employment for people over time. 'It also starts to beg the question of how does the next generation get into the workforce if traditional entry level jobs are now being done by AI,' they wrote.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Inmispace Announces Plans for Corporate Workshop on Breath, Leadership and Resilience in Singapore
Inmispace Announces Plans for Corporate Workshop on Breath, Leadership & Resilience in Singapore SINGAPORE, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inmispace, a global wellness company specializing in subconscious healing, breathwork, and emotional regulation, has announced plans to deliver a corporate workshop in Singapore. The upcoming session is designed to help professionals strengthen leadership performance, reduce burnout, and build long-term resilience—using the power of the breath and the subconscious mind. The company has delivered similar programs across London and Europe—empowering senior leaders, fast-growth teams, and high-pressure industries with practical tools for emotional clarity and peak performance. Led by Inmispace's founder, Pei Chan, the workshop introduces techniques drawn from Transformational Breath® and Rapid Transformational Therapy®, supporting professionals in shifting from reactive to responsive leadership. The company's methodology blends modern science practices to help teams regulate the nervous system, enhance decision-making, and manage stress in high-stakes environments. Key focus areas covered in past sessions include: The Power Pivot – Tools for navigating leadership transitions with confidence Breathe to Lead – Breath-based strategies to stay grounded during negotiations and meetings Unlock the Unconscious – Identifying and shifting stress-driven habits at the root level 'Breathwork is often the missing piece in leadership development,' says Chan. 'When breath is shallow, decisions tend to be reactive. This workshop is about equipping professionals with the tools to lead from a place of calm, clarity, and inner strength.' Inmispace has worked with leaders across sectors including fintech, consulting, healthcare, and fashion, with many clients describing the work as 'deeply grounding' and 'career-transforming.' The announcement comes ahead of the launch of My Breath Journal, Inmispace's upcoming wellness tool, designed to guide professionals through daily breath practices in a practical, approachable format. The journal is expected to be released later this summer. About InmispaceInmispace is a global wellness brand dedicated to subconscious healing, emotional regulation, and nervous system mastery. Their signature sessions combine powerful breathwork practices with modern therapeutic techniques, providing high-performing individuals and teams with a path to peak performance grounded in inner peace. Companies or event organizers interested in bringing Inmispace Founder Pei Chan in for corporate engagements or media features are invited to contact her team directly. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at CONTACT: Media Contact: Sabrina Stocker info@ in to access your portfolio
Forbes
15 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
If You Never Say No, Your Yes Loses Value: Power In Setting Boundaries
If you never say no, your yes loses value. The corporate world has become obsessed with terms like hustle, relentlessness, always on mindset, constant availability and yes culture. But real leaders know that learning how to say no has become one of the most powerful tools, not only in business but in life. Many professionals, especially women have been conditioned to believe that being helpful, agreeable, and always available is the fastest route to be seen as a team player or leader in this competitive corporate landscape. What the real leaders aren't telling you, is that when you say yes to everything, you dilute your focus, your energy, and ultimately, your impact. Saying yes should mean something. It should represent thought given, intention, and most importantly alignment with your values and your mission. But when saying yes becomes automatic, out of guilt, fear of missing out, and a desire to be liked by all, you're actually risking burn out and are losing clarity on what really matters. We need to reshape our mindsets, and understand that saying no isn't negative, it's a boundary. It's a statement of self- respect. It's how we protect our time, our energy, and save attention for the things that align with our goals. Every no, is actually a yes to something else, something bigger. Deeper focus, better opportunities, mental well-being, or simply space to think and create. One of the most important questions you can ask yourself is: 'Does this create value?' If it doesn't, it may be time to let it go. The greatest of leaders aren't just responsive, they're discerning. The more success you attain, the more demands will be made of your time. The difference between leaders who scale and those who stay stagnant is often their ability to prioritize and say no with confidence. When you say no strategically, you: Being valuable is not about being constantly available. It's about contributing in meaningful ways that drive results. It's about creating meaningful change, not just being busy. The most respected people in business aren't those who say yes to everyone, they're the ones who show up where it matters most. The next time your calendar is full, your inbox is overflowing, and you're asked to give just a little more, take a second to pause and ask yourself: Does this align with my goals? Will this create value? Is this the best use of my time? And if it doesn't, remember: no is a complete sentence. Your yes will be all the more powerful because of it.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon reduces staff as AI use grows
Amazon expects to reduce the size of its corporate workforce over the next few years as it accelerates its adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) across business operations, according to a message sent to employees by CEO Andy Jassy. In a company-wide communication, Jassy outlined how AI is reshaping Amazon's services, infrastructure, and internal processes, and confirmed that increased automation will affect staffing levels. The use of AI, particularly generative technologies, is forecast to streamline routine tasks and create new types of roles, while rendering others redundant. Amazon has deployed over 1,000 generative AI tools and applications, with more in development across Alexa, retail, advertising, and AWS. These include smarter voice assistants, AI-driven shopping features, and advanced developer tools for AI model training and deployment. The company's AI-powered shopping assistant is now used by tens of millions globally, while half a million sellers are making use of AI support to optimise listings. Internally, generative AI is being applied to areas such as inventory placement, forecasting, robotics, and customer service chatbots. These tools are credited with improving efficiency and reducing operational costs. Jassy stated that the shift toward AI will change how work is carried out at Amazon, likely reducing the number of employees required for certain corporate roles. He did not specify which departments will be affected or when reductions might begin but emphasised that the company will require more workers in areas aligned with AI development and oversight. 'As we roll out more generative AI and agents, it should change the way our work is done,' Jassy said. 'We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today, and more people doing other types of jobs.' Jassy highlighted the potential of generative AI agents—systems capable of performing complex tasks on behalf of users—as a central focus of Amazon's innovation strategy. These agents are expected to support customers and staff by automating tasks such as summarising research, writing code, and generating insights. Amazon aims to operate 'like the world's largest start-up,' according to Jassy, pushing for faster innovation, leaner teams, and increased ownership at all levels. Employees are being encouraged to engage with AI tools, attend training sessions, and contribute to the company's evolving technology initiatives. The workforce impact comes amid broader industry trends in which companies across sectors are assessing how AI can be used to drive productivity and reduce labour costs. Amazon's approach signals that generative AI will play a central role in reshaping not only its customer offerings but also its internal organisation and long-term employment structure. "Amazon reduces staff as AI use grows" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
