Last year, Sarah Mensah made history at Nike when she became the first Black women to take the reins of North America, the company’s biggest geography and the place where it all started for the Swoosh in 1972.
For Nike, the move sent a powerful message about the brand’s commitment to elevating women — and specifically women of color — into top positions. said Mensah.
“I feel a tremendous amount of responsibility because Nike means so much to the Black community. To be the first Black women leading this geography is an incredible mandate.”
The former Portland Trail Blazers executive, who arrived at Nike in 2013 and initially spent about five years at Jordan Brand, most recently helmed the Asia Pacific and Latin America (APLA) region.
Now she’s steering North America at a time when a surge in consumer spending is propelling demand for the brand on its home turf.
As she works to empower the next generation, Mensah reflects on her own personal experiences, and the lessons her mother taught her at an early age.
Sarah Mensah wishes she would have done more of that along the way. “So many of us, especially in my generation, spent a good portion of our time in business trying to emulate what the guys were doing, thinking there would be some reward at the end,” she said. “The best way to unlocking success is to trust that gut and know that your voice matters.”
Source : footwearnews.com
