"No brilliant jerks"

Netflix thrusted this phrase into the corporate vernacular in 2009, proudly asserting that they would not retain employees who were high performers but difficult to work with. Other companies followed suit, and the "no brilliant jerks" moniker remains a steadfast value many companies claim to adhere to in their hiring and cultural practices.

Seems like a noble but simple concept to adhere to, right?

But...

What happens when you 'brilliant jerk" is locked into a high profile, multi-million dollar contract?

What happens when your "brilliant jerk" accounts for almost 8% of your company revenue?

What happens when your "brilliant jerk" is a global superstar teetering on the edge of an epic PR implosion?

In 2022 the Rolling Stone published Inside Kanye West's Yeezy: Abrupt Firings, Alleged Nazi Inspiration, and 'Pure Chaos' The article painted a bleak and scathing portrait of what life was like for the many current and former employees working for the Yeezy brand, and how leadership seemly turned a blind eye. Similar stories would follow, and both internal and external pressure would result in Adidas dissolving their partnership with the controversial artist.

Our hosts were so captivated by this story as it unfolded, so much so that it was the inspiration for this podcast. In this episode, our hosts dive into this complicated story to ask what really happened at Adidas? How bad was it to work for the Yeezy brand? What should have been done for Adidas employees? Did Adidas choose to put profits over people?

This is a spicy conversation that had our hosts contemplating the ethics of brilliance, corporate accountability, and idol worship.

Disclaimer: Our views expressed on this episode are based on our personal opinions, experiences, and the various articles that are available publicly. We do our best to reflect events accurately, but also acknowledge that there are many sides to this complex story.

Articles Mentioned In This Episode:

Inside Kanye West’s Yeezy: Abrupt Firings, Alleged Nazi Inspiration and ‘Pure Chaos' - Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone

Kanye and Adidas: Money, Misconduct and the Price of Appeasement - Megan Twohey, New York Times