In her book, Levi's Unbuttoned, Jennifer Sey shares her story of how she rose through the ranks of Levi Strauss & Co. to become the President of the iconic Levi's brand. She was celebrated as a versatile and inspirational leader who helped save the company from bankruptcy. However, her public opposition to the closure of San Francisco's public schools during the pandemic resulted in her resignation when management gave her an ultimatum: shut up or leave. In this article, we'll delve into Sey's journey, her principles, and how her story is an inspiration for those who feel pressured to remain silent on their most fundamental beliefs.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Early Life and Gymnastics Career

Transition to Corporate Life at Levi's

Saving the Levi's Brand

Standing Up for What's Right

Resignation and Consequences

Jennifer Sey's Principles and Integrity

The Importance of Standing Up to Cancel Culture

Conclusion

FAQs

Introduction

Jennifer Sey was on track to become the first female CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. She had worked for the company for over two decades and was widely regarded as a versatile and inspirational leader who had helped save the company from bankruptcy. Sey was also known for embodying the company's "profits through principles" ethos. However, her public opposition to the closure of San Francisco's public schools during the pandemic would lead to her resignation from the company.

Early Life and Gymnastics Career

Jennifer Sey was born in 1969 in Connecticut, and she grew up in California. She was a talented gymnast and won the U.S. National Gymnastics Championship in 1986. Sey's experience as a gymnast would shape her approach to leadership later in life. As she writes in her book, "Gymnastics teaches you to be disciplined, to be coachable, and to believe in yourself. It's a foundation that I think has helped me in everything I've done since."

Transition to Corporate Life at Levi's

After retiring from gymnastics, Sey attended college and eventually landed a job at Levi Strauss & Co. She worked her way up the corporate ladder, becoming the President of the Levi's brand in 2011. Sey's leadership style was informed by her experience as a gymnast, and she was known for her discipline, coachability, and belief in herself and her team.

Saving the Levi's Brand

When Sey became the President of the Levi's brand, the company was facing financial difficulties. However, Sey was undeterred and set out to turn the company around. She used data to inform her decisions, and her leadership was decisive. Sey also recognized the power of social media and used it to connect with customers and promote the brand.

Under Sey's leadership, the Levi's brand saw a resurgence in popularity, and the company's financial situation improved. Sey was celebrated as a versatile and inspirational leader who had helped save the company from bankruptcy.

Standing Up for What's Right

In March 2020, San Francisco's public schools closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the school district announced that it would not reopen for the rest of the school year, Sey spoke out against the decision on social media. She argued that the closure would disproportionately affect low-income families and at-risk children.

Sey's public opposition to the school closure drew the ire of Levi's management, who felt that her views were not aligned with the company's. They gave her an ultimatum: shut up or leave. Sey decided that defending at-risk children was more important than her job, and so she

resigned from Levi Strauss & Co. This decision was not an easy one for Sey, who had dedicated more than two decades of her career to the company. However, her principles and integrity compelled her to stand up for what she believed in, even at the cost of her professional future.

Resignation and Consequences

Sey's resignation from Levi Strauss & Co.