A Dose of Female Leadership during NBA All-Star Weekend
By: Zahilys Hernández
CHARLOTTE - The Female Quotient held its Equality Lounge in Charlotte during the 2019 NBA All-Star weekend. A variety of leaders shared their experiences as women in the business world. "Be yourself" and "Failure is a necessary step to success" were prevalent messages during the session in which Andrea Pérez, Nike's Vice President and General Manager of Global Brand Jordan (Women/Kids), participated.
From left to right: Alison Overholt, ESPN; Andrea Perez, Jordan/Nike; Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Google; Deborah Curtis, American Express; Matina Kolokotronis, Sacramento Kings; Swati Daji, Duke Energy; and Shelley Zalis, The Female Quotient.
Of Mexican origin, Andrea has had a career worthy of admiration. She told us Jordan Women takes into consideration elements of style, sport and comfort during its design phase. "Our best releases run in 'unisex' sizes and we also create shoes that are specific to her," she told Cultura NBA.
The brand wants women to be fearless and express themselves through their wardrobes, starting with shoes. "The women that follow the Jordan brand are of different backgrounds and ethnicities, this includes the Latina woman. When we talk to women we are really talking to anyone that loves the Jordan brand."
She also told us about her career in the company: "All the positions I have held have been amazing and they have taught me a lot; from my first role as an administrative assistant in Mexico, to directing the global football division during the World Cup, to my current role with Jordan Women, each role has really taught me something. "
We also asked about Nike's culture and her professional growth there: "I have been incredibly lucky to work for a company like Nike that values inclusiveness, respect and empowerment no matter who you are. When I look back on my career, having started in Mexico as an administrative assistant and now 15 years later as a senior leader in the company, I would say that I got a lot opportunities because of the diversity that I bring to the table. Of course, there are challenges when you are a professional of any background, but I am very excited to be part of this company that values diversity as much as I do. "
