FN is profiling these young leaders in the shoe industry who are leading the way in the next generation.
Source: The 40 Shoe Executives Under 40 Revolutionizing the Business
Footwear News can be considered the standard of footwear retail news online. Much in the same way that Inc 500 sets the standard for who are the movers and shakers in business, when Footwear News compiles a list of the top players in Footwear under 40, it speaks volumes to an issue that has been overlooked and isn’t being discussed at all.
Nike has been cleaning house after news outlets reported “a locker room atmosphere at the company” that included a lack of promoting women and mistreating women in the workplace. The irony is that as Nike has been in the public eye for their failures, no one has taken any effort to look at the boards and execs at other companies. In a recent article I wrote I explained that of all of the brands in athletic footwear Under Armour was the only one with a black person and a woman at the top.
Nike’s Current Diversity Crisis Could Be Happening In Almost Every Major Company | Reality Check
Footwear News however makes another issue very clear, there aren’t any Black people in the footwear industry under 40 who are considered the next in line to do great things. Granted some of the companies in this list are small and private, some are startups even, but within companies like Nike, adidas, and Under Armour, companies that thrive on the back of black athletes and black teens buying their products, there isn’t one Black person who has the potential to be Trevor Edwards? Okay, bad example… but there lies the problem. I only know Trevor and now he’s gone. Then again he doesn’t count because he’s British and no one likes the British.
That’s a joke, but in all seriousness it’s not funny. There isn’t one Black person under 40 worthy?
I’ve been covering the sneaker industry for a very long time. I’ve been a part of the industry for over 14 years. During that time I honestly can’t name anyone outside of Kerry Chandler (if you click through on the article above then you know who she is). Actually that isn’t true. If I didn’t stay in Memphis I wouldn’t know the name Willie Gregory who is basically Nike in Memphis. He’s a black man, but I wouldn’t know who he was if his name didn’t come up all of the time in this city. I don’t know him personally.
I don’t know hardly any Black people who are execs. I transcribe conference calls for quarterly reports. You can go through the info on this site and I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned any Black people…
Wait a minute, yes I have… and again the brand is Under Armour:
Under Armour Announces Nomination of Spelman Grad Jerri L. DeVard to Board of Directors (NYSE:UAA)
If you read my post at the top on how Nike could be any company you realize that Under Armour fits my model of a new company born in the last 20 years. The DNA of the US is changing, but UA is the exception.
I do know Dallas Stokes who is a designer. I’m not sure if he’s under 40, but he is dope. He’s taken Lights Out Brand from a no name to being featured on Sportscenter and actually making small ripples, but Dallas doesn’t show up on this list. I know a young man named Christopher Dixon who currently works at Pensole under D. Edwards. Christopher actually launched a women’s footwear brand and won the Pensole competition. He is hands down one the hottest young designers in the business and I’m happy to say, the first shoe he designed was for my shoe company ARCH while he was a college basketball player. He’s not on the list though.
There are plenty of women and a few minorities, but out of all of the companies there isn’t one Black man or woman under 40 worthy?
Dizzammm!!!!
Maybe I’m overreacting… Maybe I’m frustrated that I’ve never gotten any accolades. Nah, that’s not it. What I am is tired of seeing White analysts and reporters write something everyday about how Nike isn’t taking any beatdowns for the problems in their company. Maybe the intense focus on Nike has forced me to look closely at any company making money while utilizing black bodies in marketing and advertisement to sell to Blacks and Every group. When people think of affirmative action or programs that were intended to level the playing field, what is always overlooked is that White women have always been the primary beneficiaries of every movement over diversity.
Look at Nike. Their latest replacement of a male was Amy Montagne. I don’t know what race she is, but I don’t know any sisters named Amy (alright I know that’s a bad place for a joke). Seriously, I’m willing to bet that the new hires have all been white women. If I’m wrong tell me I’m wrong, but I’m probably not.
I’m trying to keep this light, but the reality is that every industry in this country has issues with diversity. Racism is built into the DNA of this nation and while I can see those strands beginning to change as the new generation becomes more open and willing to share the seats at the table. In the bigger picture for footwear there remains what appears to be an unspoken rule, “sell it to em, but don’t give them a job of substance.” Out of 40 footwear people of significance, under 40 years old… not . one . Black . person.
Then again the pictures are black and white so there might be a few light skinded black folks (I’m sorry about that joke too… I take myself seriously, but I laugh to keep from crying.)
