A Class Leader in the Sporting Goods Industry, Lacking a Common Path for the Future
Pros
Wilson Sporting Goods is a leader in various categories. This gives Wilson Sporting Goods an exceptional position within the Hardgoods Categories to which Wilson Sporting Goods partake. Additionally, Wilson Sporting Goods’ strengths are their people. Many of these individuals have been with the organization for decades, if not the totality of their careers. With this there is substantial institutional knowledge. Generally speaking, you will find immediate coworkers who legitimately work hard to achieve goals and drive the business forward. The individual on the ground tends to be a stellar person. You will be able to create many friendships with your officemates, as I have, and will find an open and inviting group of people. The products Wilson Sporting Goods build are best-in-class. They truly are. A tremendous portfolio of products. Coworkers and the products Wilson makes are what allow me to still have such a good opinion of Wilson Sporting Goods as a leader in the Sporting Goods Industry going forward into the future.
Cons
There really seems to be no cohesive plan to drive the organization forward. In its place are many different plans within the organization, with separate ideas for the future. And in my opinion this is rather messy, it feels as if it is creating a litany of internal challenges fraught with politics and drama which cannot be undone without strong leadership at the top. Unfortunately, leadership feels to be defined by these different internal plans or groups, and the members of the leadership teams seem to be part of the problem. It is the structure which creates the difficulties. If there was a strong leader who could manage these opposing views and create a thoughtful, Wilson Sporting Goods path, I feel some of these internal struggles and politics would be lessened. I feel this leader does not currently exist. Thus, the problem of multiple strategies grows and creates organizational challenges. Internally the organization feels like a battlefield. Everyone appears to be arguing with each other and not fighting for Wilson Sporting Goods together. This is unfortunate. Especially given the deep talent at Wilson Sporting Goods, both for those individuals who have been with Wilson Sporting Goods for extended careers and for new, up and coming, talented players. Professional growth is tough to find. Generally speaking, it feels like professional growth is given lip-service. In my opinion, you can progress and grow, but your ability to grow and progress will lessen rather quickly. If you want to do more and become more, you may have to leave.
