Pros
- Fun and energetic work environment – Team culture is generally positive, and the job itself can be enjoyable. - Employee perks – Good discounts and benefits related to wellness and an active lifestyle. - Strong brand reputation – Working for a well-known global company can be beneficial for career experience.
Cons
- Hiring diverse candidates without real support – lululemon Japan hires employees from mixed backgrounds but does not provide the necessary structure, support, or inclusive leadership for them to succeed. Employees from non-traditional Japanese backgrounds often struggle with biased evaluations and unclear expectations. - DEI exists in name only – While the company claims to prioritize DEI, there are no real policies in place to address cultural differences or create a truly inclusive work environment. It’s mostly a checkbox exercise rather than an effort to foster genuine diversity. - Managers lack experience leading diverse teams – Many managers have never worked/managed people from different cultural backgrounds and tend to misinterpret differences in work styles as performance issues rather than recognizing them as strengths. - Performance evaluations are biased – Employees who do not fit the traditional Japanese culture mold are often judged more harshly, with cultural clashes framed as personal shortcomings rather than opportunities for growth and inclusion. - Limited career growth – If you come from mixed background, or simply have a different approach to work, it is much harder to advance within the company compared to rest of APAC / North America, where diverse perspectives are valued.