In the spring of 2020, at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Jennifer Sey took a hard-line, controversial position: Schools should stay open.
At the time, Sey was chief marketing officer at Levi Strauss & Co., with 21 years at the company. Later in the year, Sey got promoted to Levi's brand president — on a path to potentially become the next CEO. Instead, she has now resigned.
"Ultimately," Sey told NPR, "just about a month ago, the CEO said to me, 'There's just not a path for you here.' You know, 'It's all too much.' "
Sey's resignation made a big splash, as she said she walked away from a $1 million exit package, which would typically include a nondisclosure agreement. Levi's says no such offer was formally made. Either way, Sey's exit has prompted big questions about corporations and speech.