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Test of Matterport

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 19:17:33 GMT

Test of Matterport

Click image to see Matterport tour.

Aerogami Featured in RW Cover Story

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 20:13:08 GMT

Aerogami on Cover of Runner's World Italia September Issue

Soil Science

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 08:12:45 GMT

Soil Science

Learn from industry leaders in regenerative agriculture

Back in 2020/21, NXT initiated a meaningful relationship with a coalition built around regenerative agriculture systems with the ability to access cotton materials. In 2022, Global Sustainability Engagement helped us continue the meaningful relationship and we have since been on a positive journey to expand our learnings around regenerative agriculture, the communities who are impacted, and equity being built into business models through different programs. The work was started by a non-profit based in California, Fibershed, and has evolved into a precompetitive coalition and network of industry partners. Through this network NXT has had the privilege of connecting in and learning from the B.L.A.C.Kollective, an integrated business promoting and supporting cotton grown from Black owned farms in the United States.

On July 12, many of these amazing leads in the regenerative agriculture space, including Rebecca Burgess, founder of Fibershed, Tameka Peoples, founder of Seed2Shirt, members of Tameka's core team and one of the farmers representing the B.L.A.C.Kollective, will participate in a Lunch + Learn session at WHQ. Find details below.

Supporting Athletes in Recovery

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 23:35:35 GMT

Supporting Athletes in Recovery

NSRL Delivers New Tools Ahead of Women’s World Cup

Athletes competing in the upcoming World Cup are getting something unique from Nike. The NSRL partnered with Sports Marketing to create custom packs with products and content around three core areas of recovery: optimal sleep, mental relaxation, and physical restoration.

Partnered with academic leading experts in sport science, this is the first time NSRL created educational recovery videos to supplement the physical products in the kits, that can be accessed through a QR code.

While these topics are important to athletes competing at the highest levels, the NSRL hopes the strategies will help support all athletes and continue to push Nike toward more holistic wellness.

You can fi nd the full set of recovery videos on the LeBron James Innovation Center website.

Reach out to Lauren Duletzke , NSRL Engagement Director, with questions.

Momentum for Motiva through NRC

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 09:38:57 GMT

Momentum for Motiva through NRC

Building on the promising early results of the Nike Motiva launch , a new audio guided Walk, Jog, Run series hit NRC in June. For All Walks was developed with learnings from Valiant's Momentum digital pilot and drives women who are interested in holistic fitness to this digital experience, and from the experience to the Nike Motiva PDP. Coaches Sashah and Chelsea cover full body form, mindfulness walking, breathing in motion, and more. You can check out all three on NRC (in Guided Runs).

Big congrats to the Valiant team as well as these partners:

Innovation Direct
NXT Footwear
Global Women's Brand Marketing
Global and NA Women's and Seasonal CDM teams
Global and NA Activity (NRC, NTC) Authoring and CDM teams
NA Lifecycle Comms

This is the first digital innovation tied to a physical product coming out of our AIC teams. Another great example of how AIC is innovating to help Her make sport a daily habit.

Innovating with Purpose: Bra Pilot

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 08:12:45 GMT

Innovating with Purpose

Katie McCollam Helps Women Make Sport a Daily Habit, One Bra at a Time

Sports Bra Pilot Now Live at WHQ Sports Centers

AIC's Katie McCollam knows what it's like to forget your sports bra at home. For many women, it's arguably the most important piece of equipment you need to make sport a daily habit. No bra, no sport. Compelled by this reality, Katie spearheaded a pilot with WHQ Sports Centers to provide loaner bras. Pictured above, Katie and Kamae Stone hand delivered the bras - two size runs for each facility! - themselves.

The pilot is now live and the process is simple. If you forget your sports bra, ask for a loaner at the front desk. They will ask you if you are part of the Innovation team (say yes!) and just like that ... workout SAVED. You will leave the bra for laundering at the conclusion of your workout. Spread the word and be well!

Leader Voices: Patrick Regan

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 18:18:56 GMT

Leader Voices: Patrick Regan

AIC Takes Café Meeting on the Road to APCC

Miss the meeting (and the giveaways)? Watch and read below for a chance to walk or jog away with a pair of Nike Motiva.

The misters were flowing and so was the music. Temps climbed to a whopping 86 degrees on May 16 (and we were worried about rain – sheesh!). Shaved ice from Island Nectar – the significance of which is absolutely no accident – kept teammates cool while, on the Mainstage, the chance to recognize the APCC team and their important contributions to AIC took a front seat to the weather.

Check out the replay below to meet some of our APCC leaders, get updates on AIC Strategy and Business Operations, watch shout-outs from our factory partner teams in Asia and get to know the Tatler brothers – twins who work on the Flyknit inline and NXT Apparel teams in the APCC.

On behalf of AIC, a huge thank you to the APCC team for hosting us, opening the gates for tours and inviting us to be your thought partners. Special recognition goes to Lee Bradley, APCC Technical Director and Kelli Clark, Senior Administrative Assistant to Patrick Regan, Senior Director of Future Capabilities for their collaboration – and it doesn't stop there. As Patrick shares in the Q&A below, there are plenty of opportunities to interact with the APCC team and capabilities.

AIC COMMS: As Shane Wilson shared, much to your embarrassment, during the Cafe Meeting, you were quite the celebrity among our factory partners during travels earlier this year. You spent a decade embedded with these teams. Can tell us a bit about your time in Asia?

PATRICK: I spent the first ten years of my Nike career in China, Taiwan and Singapore. My job was to provide engineering upskilling and facilitate team building across our factory partners and Nike teams. The things we worked on together ranged from Projects Fuse, Hotknife and Magwire to the first Flyknit line and various scaled automations in footwear manufacturing. I’m really proud of the work we did together to modernize our factories overseas. I think I learned more than anyone through the experience and I made lasting friendships, which is one of the things that is so special about Nike.

AIC COMMS: Back here to WHQ, the APCC has been undergoing some changes over the past couple of years – a transformation you’ve dubbed APCC 2.0. Tell us what that entailed and what you hope it accomplishes.

PATRICK : Light Industrial spaces on campus are limited. We saw value in an AIC facility with a cohesive strategy around manufacturing innovation. The APCC is a special space where we can bring all the Innovation teams together – from design to manufacturing – to futureproof our method of make pipeline, and support and accelerate it. Here we create future tools that create and inspire the future of product. Another value we provide to the enterprise is de-risking investments by ensuring broad product interest and application.

AIC COMMS: NXT Apparel has a space in APCC now. What has that team added to the innovation culture over here?

PATRICK: I think there’s a common understanding that whether you work in footwear or apparel, we’re all trying to solve problems for the athlete. And we share an appreciation for our craft and how we’re pushing boundaries.

Nike Forward has been an exciting outcome already, and footwear teams are interested in the opportunities to apply it to new upper making capabilities.On the flipside, Gripknit yarn was developed and recently launched with Flyknit for global football and now Apparel is looking at its potential for them. The synergies are already there, but the shared space brings shared ideas and ultimately unlocks new product opportunities.

AIC COMMS: So, we’ve got footwear and apparel teams in the APCC. We’ve got our close partners in Flyknit inline. And we’ve got some of the latest technology and automation that will someday make their way to factories. How should AIC think about working alongside the teams in the APCC?

PATRICK: I think there’s a misperception the APCC is a service provider. In fact, we are engineers, scientists, programmers, creators and innovators who are also thought partners to AIC teammates. Our vision for the APCC is to create new platforms and extend our current platforms, ultimately inspiring future products that drive growth. We can’t do that work alone, and frankly, neither can any single function of AIC. A platform can’t be a platform if the capability only makes one thing. We need design range and product application breadth, and that’s where the power of the Collective comes to bear. This is an exciting and huge opportunity and we’re looking forward to taking this journey together.

Win a Pair of Nike Motivas by Answering This Question:

What is something new you learned about APCC, either from the Cafe Meeting or this story?

* Include your shoe size in the response. Exact size not guaranteed.

Building Capacity

Mon, 08 May 2023 18:52:53 GMT

Click on the Image to Download the Full Guide

JAM Team Gives Back to Breaking Community

Mon, 08 May 2023 18:01:44 GMT

JAM Team Gives Back to Breaking Community

Learn more about the organizations selected to receive grant money.

Nike's Maxims state: We believe in the power of sport and in the pursuit of better. To help athletes achieve their full potential, we will fight, scrap, push ourselves and each other, and go again. It’s up to us to inspire and enable every athlete to turn their dreams and ambitions into personal bests and achievements.

At the AIC Maxim Awards in December, the JAM team was recognized for their commitment to the breaking community and for helping to elevate the sport of breaking at Nike and on the world stage. As recipients of the first annual AIC Community Award, the team was presented with a grant in the amount of $10,000 USD toward the breaking organizations of their choice.

"First and foremost, we wanted to give back to the breaking community that has put a lot of trust in us over the last few years and have welcomed us into their world," said Lindsey Drake. "The organizations we chose, Bgirl City and BreakinMia , focus on being safe atmospheres for the now generation and the next generation in their communities by having mentor programs, workshops and youth classes. And they both host very high-level breaking competitions, providing competitive opportunities for the national and global hip hop scene."

Below you can find more detail about each of the organizations and their goals.

Bgirl City

Being a bgirl in the male dominated hip hop and breaking scene has never been easy. But BGirl City, an all women led organization based out of Houston TX, is nurturing and bringing the women of hip hop together. They are the largest bgirl organization in North America and their focus is empowering women and youth through all of the elements of hip hop. They achieve their great work in the global hip hop and breaking community by having strong leaders and mentors for the youth, consistent programming through workshops, camps, art shows & marketplaces, and of course the legendary Bgirl City Breaking competition. This year they will also be hosting a camp including predominant and up and coming bgirls with the goal of bridging the gap in the sustainability and longevity of the U.S. bgirl movement. Website: https://www.bgirlcity.com/

BreakinMia

Miami’s home for breaking culture and education. Other than MIA standing for Miami, MIA is also their moto: Motivate, Inspire and Aspire. BreakinMia exists to be a safe space for the breaking community to come challenge themselves, grow, follow their passions, continue to push the limits, and welcome others into the community. They accomplish this through teaching breaking (3yrs old and up!), having scholarship programs for their dance classes, holding seminars on dance, meditation, and overall wellness, and finally by hosting breaking competitions (Undefeated Series).

Website: https://www.breakinmia.com/

Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) Thinking with Bob Moesta

Mon, 08 May 2023 17:39:01 GMT

Master Class with Bob Moesta

Offered to AIC Teammates by Registration

The AIC leadership team is inviting you to join a fast paced, immersive engagement program to help us better serve Athletes*. This is a master class that approaches Innovation as both art and science, facilitated by Bob Moesta , CEO & Founder of the Re-Wired Group . A visual thinker, teacher and creator, Bob helps businesses solve for their consumers needs through The Jobs To Be Done (JTBD) framework. The JTBD premise is that people don't buy products - they hire them to do a job. The "job" is a need that our athletes* are trying to fulfill.

Join us for a deep dive into JTBD thinking, including hands-on practice. This two day workshop offers a chance to enhance your skills around customer centricity and extracting and using customer insights. Learn the basics of JTBD - what causes customers to make the decisions they do - and practice your new skills through interviewing and ideation. Participants will gain not only an understanding of the theory, but also how to translate insights into product development priorities, marketing messaging and more.

There are two workshop dates to choose from in May. This is optional, though we strongly encourage you to take advantage of this learning opportunity. Leave your laptops behind and be ready to fully immerse yourself in the environment and this investment in you! Each workshop is two full days and will take place on campus at Torrey Pines (TWC) for your convenience:

Option 1: May 22 - 23

Option 2: May 24 - 25

Detailed agenda will be provided upon arrival, but plan to be there between 9am-5pm each day, with an hour break mid-day for lunch.

Please reach out to Monique.Richmire@nike.com if you would like to join one of the sessions and she will send you the registration link.

AIC Innovation Fair, Jan. 2023

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 22:57:58 GMT

AIC Innovation Fair: Sustainability Remix

See how AIC is envisioning a Planet Positive Future.

January saw the return of the AIC Innovation Fair, which first became a hit in July of last year. Same inspirational vibe and science fair charm this go-round. Different innovators and theme. The second-of-its-kind fair focused on sustainability. Some 20+ AIC teams showcased projects in various stages of exploration and development. Collectively, the fair proved that across AIC, sustainability intersects with everyone's job and is a defining part of our innovation culture.

In the days following the fair, AIC reconvened for a sustainability speaker series, group mediation in the NSRL, the roll-out of AIC Sustainability's Planet Positive Future strategy and a character making workshop. Below are just a few of the characters teammates created from scraps and components that would otherwise have gone to waste. You'll see these and many others around LeBron in the coming weeks.

The AIC Innovation Fair is held twice a year. Contact Katie McCollam and/or Dyanna Garcia for questions about participation in upcoming fairs.

Serving Her in Motherhood

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 20:19:18 GMT

Serving Her in Motherhood

By Vidya Spandana, Head of Nike Valiant Labs

Ninety percent of women (3.4 billion people) around the world will embark on the journey of motherhood. Because motherhood is a journey composed of physical, mental, and emotional stages, it’s important we meet mothers where they are and provide education and support for every step of the way.

Atlas , Nike’s digital body and foot insights library that visualizes complex athlete* research to fuel produce and service innovation, shared their recent story on Motherhood . We’ve identified gaps in how relevant and meaningful our consumers find our digital content and experiences so that Nike can increase engagement and foster brand loyalty to serve mothers through pregnancy and beyond.

Atlas’ Motherhood section uses insights and data from Nike Valiant Labs, NSRL, NXT Apparel, NXT Space, FIT, and Inline FW, to dive into the journey of motherhood and continue to help Nike innovate for Her to inspire a healthier future generation.

The Post Partum Journey

60% of current postpartum women are struggling to get back into a workout routine. Insights have identified that products and ways to help mothers recover their sense of self, move their body, and feel good about who they are appeal to the consumer. Shedding light on the realities of the postpartum journey and coming from a place of support to develop products that adapt to support mothers for their lifetime can help her through recovery.

Understanding that every mother is unique and that there is no one “motherhood consumer” can allow Nike to serve Her through the marathon that is the pregnancy journey. As Nike increases research, testing, and marketing resources, there are more opportunities to increase engagement, foster brand loyalty and innovate for Her.

Since 2018, we've has worked t o identify roadblocks in how we speak to Her and how to solve them. If you or your team would like to learn more about serving Her in Motherhood or how you can leverage the insights gained from NVL’s Motherhood and Olympya pilots, reach out to john.shiel@nike.com or check out the final insights here . If you do not have access to the Atlas platform please send an email to atlas@nike.com to request access.

AIC's Namrata Amin Featured in NIKE, Inc.'s FY22 Impact Report

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 19:30:34 GMT

AIC Namrata Amin Featured in NIKE, Inc.'s FY22 Impact Report

You can find Namrata's story in a section of the report called Coaching Diaries, or click the image above to download. Access the full FY22 Impact Report on about.nike.com .

Serving Athletes* through Community – Momentum

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 22:51:10 GMT

Serving Athletes Through Community – Momentum

NVL Creates Digital Innovation Tied Directly to Physical Innovation (for Her)

We exist to serve the athlete, working to inspire, support, and enable every athlete through their journey. Understanding the core of this mission, Nike Valiant Lab’s project, Momentum, recently won the Serve the Athlete AIC Maxim by developing unique digital community capabilities that engaged and motivated aspiring runners to make sport a daily habit.

What is Momentum?

Momentum is Nike’s first digital innovation tied directly to product innovation (for Her). It tested community features, positioning, and content serving Segment 2 Females x Running to drive commerce.

Building Community

Authentically creating community is difficult to unlock. Momentum took a thoughtful approach to building consumer trust and leveraged aff inity groups and approachable coaches to support runners throughout their app experience.

Serving the Athlete* - Key Learnings

A 14-week pilot, with over 3,600 participants, showed that digital community experiences and capabilities drive business results and fuel connected consumer experiences and brand affinity.

Momentum brought new and lapsed members (back) to Nike.

Momentum helped users make sport a daily habit.

Structure and guidance drive engagement.

Scaling Impact

Partners across Nike including Women’s, Brand, In-Line, and NDP , are using insights from the Momentum pilot to better serve our athletes through community.

If you or your team would like to learn more about the future of community at Nike or how you can leverage the insights gained from the Momentum pilot, reach out to Natacha.Hildebrand@nike.com and Jen.Oshma@nike.com or check out the final insights deck here .

AIC-First Opportunity: Running Analysis

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 20:50:58 GMT

NSRL Brings Running Analysis Service to AIC First

Secure your spot now!

Want to run your best? The Nike Sport Research Lab is opening its state-of-the-art running analysis service to AIC teammates first on January 23rd!

Get an exclusive, first-hand look into understanding how your body moves and learn how to improve your gait in this interactive experience that uses motion-capture cameras to create a running profile. You’ll get personalized guidance on running form, workouts, and footwear suggestions for your specific needs. At the same time, you’ll be helping to shape what the future of this experience looks like for athletes*.

Register here .

There are limited spots open for this AIC trial, so make sure you register soon! Can't get a spot? Keep an eye out for openings at the Nike Sport Center happening at the end of this month.

Innovation Fair Returns

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 17:52:35 GMT

Innovation Fair Returns

With the theme of sustainability at the forefront, AIC teams present in-flight work in a science fair-style event.

The AIC Innovation Fair was established in 2022 as a way to bring the Collective closer to work in-flight and to the people driving the work. Last summer's event fostered collaboration and visibility of projects and peoples' interests across AIC, enabling teammates from different groups to come together and solve problems.

On Jan. 24 - 26, the Innovation Fair returns for a three day event focused on sustainability.From the 30+ projects showcased at the Fair, to guest speakers and creative making sessions, the goal is to continue to elevate sustainability across everything we do and to nurture the creative problem solving it takes to bring sustainability work to life.

The following sessions are open to all AIC teammates. No registration required. Outlook meeting invites for each individual activity will follow.

Tuesday, Jan. 24:

INNOVATION FAIR

LBJ-4 + PINK BUCKET

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

AIC teams will spotlight, inspire and share existing sustainability work in a science fair-style setting.

NEW AIC SUSTAINABILITY VISION SHARE-OUT: PLANET POSITIVE FUTURE

LBJ-2, STADIUM SEATS

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. (followed by Q&A, Happy Hour until 4:30 p.m.

Seana Hannah, VP of AIC Sustainability, and Abby Waldorf, AIC Sustainability Strategy, will present their new vision and field questions.

Wednesday, Jan. 25:

GUIDED MEDITATION

NSRL - TURF

9 - 10 a.m.

Kick off the day mindfully with a seated, guided meditation on the NSRL Turf.

A CONVERSATION WITH JENNIFER HOLMGREN , CEO LANZATECH

10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

LBJ-2, STADIUM SEATS

Hear from this AIC partner whose company is a leader in developing cutting edge. carbon transformation technology. Learn more here .

Thursday , Jan. 2 6 :

CHARACTER BUILDING WORKSHOP

PINK BUCKET

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Using apparel, footwear and APCC scraps as inspiration, along with our teams' active imaginations, we will create 'characters' that we can display in our space as a collection and representation of our dedication to sustainability and collective creativity. CCC and AC3 teammates will be creator coaches offering creative support and supervised access to CCC and AC3 equipment throughout the workshop.

New Year's Resolutions: Are They a Do or Don't?

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 16:31:13 GMT

New Year's Resolutions: Are they a Do or a Don't?

NSRL Mind Science Advisors Weigh In

Monday, Jan. 16, or the third Monday of each calendar year, is dubbed “Blue Monday.” It’s the day many people are said to break with their New Year’s resolutions.

So, we wondered … are resolutions worth the potential of making us feel blue? Who better to ask than the NSRL’s Mind Science Advisory Board members focused on behavior change?

Lisa Lewis , a licensed sports psychologist, Elliot Berkman , a professor of psychology at the University of Oregon, and Kristen Berman , co-founder of Irrational Labs all agree on one thing: resolutions may not stick. But you should do them anyway.

AIC: Are resolutions a ‘do’ or a ‘don’t?’

Lisa: People are naturally goal-oriented, so I think New Year’s Resolutions are a natural expression of goal-directedness. People want to grow, change, and improve! It’s part of the human condition, so why not embrace it and support people in setting goals and making resolutions that 1. stick, and 2. help.

Kristen: Imagine if you could do something very simple and then, for even two weeks, be the person you’ve always wanted to be. Would you do it? Or would you say instead: “I’ll only do the thing if I can be that person forever”? The point being: OF COURSE you’d do the thing. So do it—whether it sticks or not.

AIC: What are some of the biggest gotchas/mistakes people make when setting resolutions?

Elliott: The most common mistake with resolutions is failing to plan ahead. Lots of people wake up on January 1 and expect to launch into a new behavior, but all the barriers to that behavior that were there in December are still there in January. My advice: take a week or two to plan out what your daily life will look like with a new routine in place.

Lisa: Avoid resolutions based on societal “Shoulds”, like looking a certain way, being a specific weight, or earning a specific salary. These are goals that people set because they feel they “should”, in comparison to others. These types of goals can feel controlling, and people can quickly lose motivation, or even worse, the goal could backfire and cause extreme behavior in the opposite direction; for example, binge eating or drinking.

AIC: Is there any scientific evidence that resolutions work?

Lisa: There is a mixed bag overall, but some evidence that resolutions can help/work. THIS 2020 study found that “approach oriented” goals seemed to be more effective than “avoidance oriented goals”. That means that goals like, “I will go to the gym, I will eat 5 servings of vegetable, I will drink 2.5L of water a day” are more helpful than goals like, “I will not sit on the couch and eat chips. I will not drink more than one margarita at a time.” In addition, this research found that people who got support did better than people who had no additional support.

Elliott: There is good evidence that setting goals (not specifically around new year’s) can increase the chances of successful behavior change. Deliberately setting challenging goals, announcing the goals publicly, and pursuing them with others are all evidence-based ways to increase success. (Citation here is a 2017 meta-analysis by Epton, Currie, and Armitage)

AIC: Instead of (or in addition to) resolutions, how can people get off to a strong start for wellness and making sport a daily habit in the New Year?

Kristen: Don’t go it alone. Per Strava : When athletes exercise in groups, they tend to go 21% further and work out 10% longer. Be uncomfortably specific and concrete—or it won’t happen. What exactly do you want to do, and when? Make a one-time decision that locks you into future decisions. Want to walk more? Get a dog and you will. Don’t fight uphill battles. Pick something you’re actually interested in and excited about doing, but haven’t been able to yet. Use this worksheet to make your goals stickier.

Elliott: Research on habits has shown that small wins are a good way to start. Early successes like a walk or jog around the block, for example, can be a gentle and effective way to start laying the groundwork for bigger changes down the road.

Lisa: Make a commitment to yourself by naming your goals in writing, to others, or even on an online forum/community. Once you put your commitment out there in words, you’ll be more motivated to demonstrate your commitment in action.

AIC: What are your resolutions for 2023?

We couldn’t let our experts off the hook without sharing their own resolutions and goals for 2023. Lisa said the past few years have been more focused on rehab and injury prevention. This year she’s ready to reintroduce the really heavy stuff – squats, deadlifts and bench presses! Elliott wants to run a half marathon in 100 minutes. Kristen has a plan in place for eating better and staying more focused. “I’m determined to make these resolutions stick,” she said. “But so what if they don’t? The “person I’ve always wanted to be” would never insist that I keep them forever.”

Coffee and Sustainability@Home

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 21:59:30 GMT

Join AIC Sustainability for Fluffy Coffees and Treats at the Sustainability@Home Launch Party!

Thursday 1/19 , 9-11 A M in the Pink Bucket
*Outlook invite to follow.

Hello, all, and happy new year! We know many of us are starting the year strong with intentions and resolutions around sustainability, in our personal and professional lives (right?! ��). We are here to help you with that!

Come join us at the official launch party for the newest section of our AIC Sustainability website: Sustainability@Home ! This site is chock-full of great information and resources to help you learn how to reduce your carbon footprint at home, including a tool that will help you calculate your approximate home carbon footprint, see areas where you can make specific changes, and learn about the impact those changes will have!

Additionally, we will have some special guests joining us. Brian Stewart, founder of Electrify Now and former Nike employee, will be here to answer any questions you can possibly think of related to home electrification, and we will have several of our very own AIC teammates* who have already completed a variety of home electrification projects who can share their experiences as well.

*Basically celebs since they’re featured on the website!

We’d love to meet you all, discuss resolutions, and show you all the great things about the site. Plus, there’ll be treats.

Hope to see you there!

AIC Sustainability Team

10 for 10

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 09:42:59 GMT

10 for 10

In honor of the tenth anniversary of the Footwear Concept Creation Center, we unpack 10 things you should know about the CCC.

In 2022 we celebrated the 50 ^th anniversary of Nike, Inc., the 40+ year Nike-versaries of AIC leaders Tom Clarke, Steve Roth, Tinker Hatfield and Clare Hamill, and the 10 ^th anniversary of Nike Flyknit. Another important milestone is the diamond anniversary of the Footwear Concept Creation Center (CCC).

In 2012, Bruce Kilgore (recently retired) convened of a group of talented makers at WHQ –

creators who were trained in the conventional rules of shoemaking, but not constrained by them; a team that would take the craziest, most far-fetched new footwear ideas and find a way to bring them to life. Kilgore brought in Claudio Innocente, an experienced product designer and developer from the shoemaking industry in Montebelluna, to build the team. What began then as a ragtag band of four has grown into a vital and vibrant team of 20, woven deeply into the fabric of AIC and working every day to advance the art and science of shoemaking.

Here are 10 things you should know about the CCC team as they enter their next decade.

2022 AIC Maxims Winner and Replay

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 23:45:36 GMT

2022 AIC Maxims Winners and Replay

On Tuesday, Dec. 6, AIC revived a pre-pandemic tradition - the AIC Maxims.

Tom Clarke had this to say about the slate of nominees:

"The bar has been raised tremendously over the last year in how we’re innovating against our AIC mission to make athletes better, serve more athletes* and make the world better for athletes. It was evident in the number and quality of the nominations we evaluated for this year’s Maxims. And it’s true as we look at the depth and breadth of the pipeline of products and capabilities that will carry us into Paris ’24 and beyond. In innovation, as in sport, this level of performance doesn’t happen without high levels of determination, discipline and focus."

C ongratulations to all the nominees and winners of the 2022 AIC Maxims, which are as follows:

Be on the Offense Always: Computational Design
Win as a Team: Method of Make Pipeline, Nectar
Do the Right Thing: React X
Serve Athletes*: Momentum
Create the Future of Sport: Project FYI
First Annual AIC Community Award: JAM
Founders Award: Sonny Ogden

*Reminder: Keep the information contained in this video tight.

Bloomberg: Nike Is Winning the World Cup Jersey Battle

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 20:50:58 GMT

Bloomberg: Nike Is Winning the World Cup Jersey Battle

November 19, 2022

By Richard Abbey

When the FIFA World Cup kicks off in Qatar this weekend, 13 of the 32 participating countries will be playing in jerseys provided by Nike Inc., the most by any sportswear sponsor at this year’s tournament.

This year, Germany-based Adidas AG will outfit only seven nations. This is only the third time Oregon-based Nike has outperformed Adidas, and the biggest gap Nike has ever held over its longtime rival.

Countries with Nike deals include the host nation and the United States, as well as powerhouse teams like Brazil, England and France. Nike’s popularity comes at the expense of Adidas, which, at the peak of its dominance, outfitted nearly two-thirds of teams at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

Kit licensing deals are essential for sportswear companies in their quest to take a bite of the $30 billion global licensed sports merchandise market. For decades, Adidas had been the primary name on World Cup kits. The company sponsored nine of the 16 teams at the 1974 FIFA World Cup in Germany and continued their dominance until recently. Nike — a relative late-comer to soccer-kit sponsorships — first entered the World Cup fray in 1998 when it sponsored five teams competing in France, and has steadily grown its market share.

An Adidas spokesperson, however, said their company benefits from the prestige of the teams playing in three stripes-embossed jerseys.

“It is not only about quantity but also quality,” said Stefan Pursche, an Adidas spokesperson. “We equip four teams among the top favorites for the title; Argentina, Spain, Belgium, and Germany.”

Six of the seven nations playing in Adidas’s kits are ranked among the world’s top-20 teams, according to rankings created by FIFA. Nike also sponsors top-ranked teams — seven nations it equips are among the top-20 — but it is also tied to lower-ranked teams like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, who both rank among the worst teams competing this year. Nike does however have one big advantage, Brazil — which has won the most World Cup titles and is favored by oddsmakers to win again this year — will be wearing the swoosh.

Holiday Giving

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 20:25:44 GMT

Holiday Haul

Well AIC, we asked and you delivered!

Over the last eight weeks, our Giving Tree gave you the opportunity to support Ukrainian refugees living in our community, and struggling Aloha High School students. On their behalf, we accepted donations in the form of footwear, apparel, and food gift cards. What a haul!

Over the next two weeks, we will be distributing the items we collected to those in need.

Thank you to everyone that helped make this a success!

With love,

Your AIC CC

Health and Safety Update

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 20:08:40 GMT

Update Your Emergency Contacts for the New Year

For urgent help in case of emergency contact Nike Security at 503-671-3911. Be ready to provide the nature of emergency, your name and location to Security. Security will then coordinate with 911 to direct first responders to your location. Examples where urgent help is needed include employee having a seizure or bleeding from a cut (beyond first aid), or a fire.

For non-emergency situations contact numbers below based on your needs:

Non-urgent medical condition: Call the Nurse Line at 1-855-466-8179. An example is mild backpain from lifting boxes at work.
For facilities related needs : Contact One Call via phone call at 503-671-4411. Examples include broken water machine in breakroom or electrical breaker tripping for an equipment.
Non-urgent security help: Contact Nike Security via phone call at 503-671-3912. An example include someone parking in the ADA spot without active ADA permit.

Find more details at Nike Resilience, Health & Safety .

Community Solar Update

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 21:37:40 GMT

Exciting News for Community Solar!

AIC Sustainability is excited to share that the Skyward Community Solar Project, pictured above, will be live and generating clean, renewable energy next month!

In June, ground was broken in Boring, OR to initiate the building of the Skyward Community Solar Project. Just one short month from now, Skyward will be fully developed, activated, and will generate 3.6 MW of clean energy annually. This will provide over 100 Nike PGE subscribers (along with many other folks) with clean energy and will reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs. Overall, Skyward will effectively reduce CO ₂ emissions by 1.4 million pounds per year.

For Nike and AIC subscribers who are enrolled in the PGE Skyward Project, please look out for an email from the Common Energy Customer Service Team when the project goes live for additional information and where to see the savings on your energy bills.

For those not on the Skyward project, we’d love to make sure you are on the waitlist for one of our other upcoming projects. Please sign up here: https://www.commonenergy.us/partners/nike .

If you have any questions regarding the project, program, or how to enroll/join the waitlist for the next project in Oregon, Common will host a webinar on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 11am PST.to tell you more and answer all your questions.

Webinar Details

Please join via the link below.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86995720933?pwd=eEI2YkhnRytoT002THl5aEp6NFY5dz09

Meeting ID: 869 9572 0933 Passcode: 787949

If you would like to contact someone from Common directly, you can reach Thea at thea@commonenergy.us .

Launch Event

Common will be onsite at The Skyward Project in Boring, OR for a solar launch event on Tues., Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. You are welcome and encouraged to join! More information will be posted on the AIC Sustainability Slack channel (#aic-sustainability), or you can reach out to Catherine.Morrison@nike.com .

Common would like to thank each of you and the Nike Innovation Team for the partnership and support to make this project a reality!

Everest Challenge

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 07:50:36 GMT

NSRL to AIC: Mount (Everest) Up

Lab Rats place the first flag at the top of the LeBron James Innovation Center Ramp.

The NSRL team is no stranger to making sport a daily habit in all weather conditions. So when Jackie Shea and Joanie Larose proposed an expedition to the top of the highest peak at WHQ during the most unpredictable weather period in Oregon, more than 50 teammates rose to the challenge.

At a treacherous 15.9% incline, the LeBron James Innovation Center Ramp isn't just the tallest hill on Nike's WHQ campus - it's the only one! But the Lab Rats were not deterred. Together they completed a total of 392 laps (not including the victory lap to the summit, pictured) to claim the first LBJ-Everest Summit. Shout out to Alex Wiley for devising a state-of-the-art command center to ensure each climb was accurately captured.

Think you've got what it takes? Watch the video to see what challenge lead climbers Shea and Larose have for AIC now.

Think you can out-Everest Team Lab Rats? Let us know at aic.communications@nike.com and we'll be at Base Camp to capture your heroic ascent !

A Fine Time at Fall Festival

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 06:57:29 GMT

A Fine Time for a Fall Festival

The AIC Community Crew hosted a costumed, craft-filled and sometimes creepy carnival for teammates, friends and family.

Check out some of the photo highlights, then read on to see if you're a raffle winner.

RAFFLE WINNERS

Raffle tickets were handed out to attendees that participated in the activities. We did a draw, and here are the winners…

841023
841039
841068
841069
841071
841072
841092
841093

If you hold one of these winning tickets, please reach out to the CC at AIC.COMMUNITY.CREW@Nike.com .

COSTUME CONTEST

Winners in the costume categories will be announced in a display on the 2 ^nd floor of LBJ. Keep your eyes out!

Thank you to all that contributed to this event! If you have any feedback or questions about the Fall Festival, or any other inquiries for the Community Crew, hit us up at the above email.

Serving Athletes* Who Serve

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 22:14:00 GMT

Serving Athletes* Who Serve

Innovators honor Thunderbird pilots with limited edition gloves.

From the ground looking up, the pilots who make up the United States Air Force Thunderbirds are masters at the art and science of flying. In the cockpit of their F-16 Fighting Falcon jets, they are also athletes* with very unique needs. These men and women must maintain a hold of 16 pounds of force on the stick at all times – for up to an hour of flying.

Enter Nike innovator Tobie Hatfield, known for designing Nike’s first tactical boots among many other iconic Nike footwear innovations. Inspired by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman’s time in the 10th Mountain Division of the US Army, Hatfield has a passion for delivering innovation that enables peak performance and safety of those in uniform. That passion is matched by his ability to connect deeply with athletes of all types and skillsets. In this case, Tobie’s muse was Commander of the Thunderbirds, Lieutenant Colonel Justin “Astro” Elliott, Thunderbird #1.

Acting on the insight that gloves with grip are essential to the very survival of these athletes while they’re up in the sky, Tobie and his team, in partnership with Dalt Peebles of Nike’s Special Field Systems dimension and equipment manufacturer JR286, created custom gloves for the current squadron of eight pilots and four supporting staff members. Tobie hand delivered them to the pilots on Sept. 30 ahead of the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, Ca.

The gloves feature specific grip characteristics required to fly a plane: tacky, but not sticky. They also stand out with an iconic design, a raised Thunderbirds logo featured prominently and a silicone Swoosh. They were presented to the pilots in a custom-made box which reads, in part, “these limited-edition gloves are … a symbol of our gratitude – a way of saying thank you for your service. It is our privilege to be able to support you in flight.”

Check out photos of the moment the pilots received their gloves. Then, join Tobie and Astro for a live insights session on Veteran’s Day, Friday, Nov. 11, from 1 – 1:45 p.m. in the Pink Bucket on LBJ-4.

Innovators at Play

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 16:55:56 GMT

Innovators At Play

NVL presents its first ever Digital Innovation Explore Workshop to discuss new Whitespaces and dream up big ideas for Nike innovation.

Innovation is the thread that connects us across the AIC. It drives the work we do, the connections we make, and the ideas we generate to serve athletes* in new ways. You may have noticed poster boards with whitespace research in the Breaking 2 area of LBJ recently. These were part of Nike Valiant Labs’ first Digital Innovation Explore workshop where colleagues and Nike partners collaborated and shared new ideas for the future of sport.

Sharing key findings in whitespaces across Community, Holistic Wellness, Web3, New Commerce, and Future Fitness, spurred conversations to uncover new potential concepts. Having opportunities to encourage the flow of new ideas and forge connections across our team’s work is what enables us to dream up the innovative futures for our athletes* that makes Nike who we are.

Teams spanning across NVL, NSRL, NXT, NDP, CMR, Space, and Kids team participated to discover opportunities where work can align. Giving space to brainstorm and be curious in moments like this is what enables continued innovation. Nike Valiant Labs plans to do future workshops and welcomes team members to the first floor Living Room in Lebron James to see the posters in real life and strike up new conversations. If you’d like to learn more about the Valiant Labs Explore Workshop you can check out their whitespace work here or reach out to Aria Safar ( aria.safar@nike.com ).

Replay: The Future of Exercise x Climate Change Effects

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 21:43:35 GMT

INSTANT REPLAY

NSRL’s Applied Ap parel Science presents, a discussi on with Dr. Ollie Jay on climate change and the impact on the future of sport.

Imagine if the games we love were all cancelled one day due to climate issues? This is a topic we’re talking about a lot from an apparel persp ective, and it goes much further than that. It’s hard t o think about … but it’s also an opportunity for us to learn the science, apply it to the way w e think about future innovation, come together, and continue helping athletes persevere anywhere they play.

We have an opportunity to partner with the best experts, like Dr. Jay, and continue building on the great work in this important space. The team is working hard to measure sweat evaporation to improve sweating efficiency so athletes can stay more comfortable in different environments. This knowledge could lead to game-changing first-of-its kind innovations for athletes*.

Science is a competitive advantage for us and the more we work together to learn the insights, ask questions, validate, and execute we can explore limitless potential.

For those who could not join us, here is a link to the recording of the session .

If you have questions on the science in this presentation or how you can work with our Applied Apparel Science team on a project, please reach out Grant Simmons or Joanie Larose.

NIKE X KINDA Presents: Sentience Series Podcast

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 00:52:12 GMT

NXT Apparel Brings New Podcast Series to AIC

Listen here to this 6-part podcast series that will drop every 2 weeks.

NXT Apparel has commissioned a podcast series with Kinda Studios which they hope will inspire innovators across AIC to think about designing more holistically. Kinda Studios is a neuroaesthetics studio which translates science into designs, creative applications and everyday experiences. The 6-part podcast, called Sentience, will take you on a learning journey into the world of sensation and emotion.

Rebecca Quinn and Steve Jackson, NXT Apparel North Star Directors, say they are excited to share this work with the broader AIC community in the hopes that it will unlock new ways that to serve our athletes* better and from the inside out.

“This topic may be new territory for some. For others with more familiarity, it’s a refresher into the incredible opportunity of neuroaesthetics.”

- Rebecca Quinn, NXT Apparel North Star Director

Each 12-minute episode, released bi-weekly, will not only educate you around the topics, but translate the research into design strategies and help incorporate the insights into personal, daily living.

Enjoy!

Episode 3: Embodied Cognition

Summary: The body is the key vehicle in which we experience the world around us. So it shouldn't be a surprise that it has its own intelligence system stored from the accumulation of our life’s experiences. From language to clothing, embodied cognition metaphors are embedded within our human framework, and the memories stored in our bodies have profound impact on our feeling-acting states. Physical memories can impact the nervous system long after a traumatic incident which can drive lasting disconnection. In this episode we explore how apparel can help us return to our body, reconnect and support its natural healing process.

Episode Links

The Healing Imprint

Reference Samples

Balcetis, E., & Cole, S. (2009). Body in mind: The role of embodied cognition in self‐regulation. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 3(5), 759-774

Gallese, V. (2009). Mirror neurons, embodied simulation, and the neural basis of social identification. Psychoanalytic dialogues, 19(5), 519-536

Ogden, P., & Minton, K. (2000). Sensorimotor psychotherapy: One method for processing traumatic memory. Traumatology, 6(3), 149-173

López-Pérez, B., Ambrona, T., Wilson, E. L., & Khalil, M. (2016). The effect of enclothed cognition on empathic responses and helping behavior. Social Psychology

Episode 2: Emotions

Summary: Emotions are central to how we make decisions, behave in the world and treat others. But why have we always been told not to be emotional? And what has modern neuroscience shown about the relationship between emotion-feeling-decision making? The body is a gatekeeper to our emotional experience. It is key to using emotions as a guide to decision making. We look at how design can help us reignite our intuition, exploring the science as well as key innovations tackling emotions through scent, apparel and thought patterns. This episode leaves you with insights to think differently about emotion and as a key performance metric within itself.

Episode Links

HeartMath

Escent

Emotional Clothing

Reference Samples

Barrett, L. F. (2017). How emotions are made: The secret life of the brain. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Critchley, H. D., Eccles, J., & Garfinkel, S. N. (2013). Interaction between cognition, emotion, and the autonomic nervous system. In Handbook of clinical neurology (Vol. 117, pp. 59-77). Elsevier

Poppa, T., & Bechara, A. (2018). The somatic marker hypothesis: revisiting the role of the ‘body-loop’ in decision-making. Current opinion in behavioral sciences, 19, 61-66

Rolston, A., & Lloyd-Richardson, E. (2017). What is emotion regulation and how do we do it? Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery, 1-5

Episode 1: Brain Body

Summary: We’ve known for a long time now, that the brain and body are one connected system, but what is modern neuroscience uncovering about this two way feedback loop and how can these insights be used for new innovations for apparel design? As an extension of our bodies, clothing plays a key role in our brain-body communication, so how can we support mental blocks, body movement and more to support everything from memory, movement and confidence.

Transcript

Brain Body

Episode Links

Formwear

Neotony

Reference Samples

De Sanctis, P., Solis‐Escalante, T., Seeber, M., Wagner, J., Ferris, D. P., & Gramann, K. (2021). Time to move: Brain dynamics underlying natural action and cognition. European Journal of Neuroscience.

Peper, E., Lin, I. M., Harvey, R., & Perez, J. (2017). How posture affects memory recall and mood. Biofeedback, 45(2), 36-41

Sivadas, A., & Broadie, K. (2020). HOW DOES MY BRAIN COMMUNICATE WITH MY BODY?. Frontiers for young minds, 8.

Veenstra, L., Schneider, I. K., & Koole, S. L. (2017). Embodied mood regulation: the impact of body posture on mood recovery, negative thoughts, and mood-congruent recall. Cognition and Emotion, 31(7), 1361-1376

One Teammate's Journey Back to Pakistan

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 18:29:56 GMT

Pakistan in Pictures

One Teammate's Journey Back Home

Subject: Pakistan Slide Show

Location: LeBron - Pink Bucket

Date: September 20, 3:30-5:00 PM

This is a casual opportunity to share experiences , broaden our collective horizons, and build bond s between people who work together.

Khawar Khan, our EH&S manager, was born in Pakistan. He recently returned there for an extended visit, including during the recent floods. He speaks the language, but this time saw his home (which he left 20 years ago to pursue a Fulbright Scholarship) through the eyes of his wife, who’s not Pakistani.

Khawar agreed to share photos and stories of his trip and to give us a little window into another part of our world. We’ll h ave a few refreshments and take over the large screen in the Pink Bucket so he can show and answer qu estions. Please join us if you have the time. Feel free to share this invite with A IC teammates who work with Khawar, or who might enjoy learning a bit more.

The Future of Exercise x Climate Change Effects

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 17:55:04 GMT

NSRL Presents: The Future of Sport in a fast warming climate.

With Ollie Jay, Ph.D., University of Sydney

The NSRL Apparel Team invites all innovators for a thought provoking and informative hour of science on one of the most critical topics of our time – The FUTURE OF SPORT in a fast WARMING CLIMATE.

We welcome Ollie Jay, Ph.D. of the University of Sydney who will give us a preview of his presentation at ACSM IPE Conference (American College of Sports Medicine’s Integrative Physiology of Exercise) in Baltimore next week.

WHO:

Dr. Jay is Director of the University’s Heat & Health Research Incubator and Thermal Ergonomics Laboratory, where he and his team conduct research on human thermoregulatory responses during exercise. Further info on his work can be found here .

WHAT:

Extreme Heat Policy Development and Implementation for Elite Sport

W HERE :

Pink Bucket, LBJ-4, or on Zoom

THE ABSTRACT:

Fatal heat-related injury during elite sport competition is relatively rare. However, the negative impacts of exertional heat illness are still a very real concern for athletes competing and training in hot environments.

This presentation will cover the various factors that should be considered when developing and implementing an evidence-based extreme heat policy for a particular sport. Characterizing the environment requires the accurate measurement and acquisition of, preferably, all four of the environmental parameters that determine heat stress risk in humans (air temperature, mean radiant temperature, air velocity, humidity). If a sport takes place in a setting that might present a micro-environment, such as an open stadium, conditions should, if possible, be measured in situ. Whichever heat stress index is used for a given heat policy, exposure thresholds need to be set according to physiological (e.g. acclimation status, aerobic fitness) and biophysical (e.g. body size) characteristics of the athletes participating, and the level of risk that they can be expected to tolerate, which differs greatly between professional and amateur athletes. For maximum effectiveness, the estimated level of heat stress risk must be presented in a format that is easily interpretable for the full range of stakeholders without specialist knowledge. Finally, associated strategies that are recommended to manage/mitigate heat stress risk should be grounded in scientific evidence, as well as feasible and compatible with the sport.

Examples of the development and implementation of novel extreme heat policies by our research team at The University of Sydney for professional sports (e.g., The Australian Open tennis Grand-Slam tournament) will be presented.

And the winner is ...

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 00:52:18 GMT

And the winner is ...

Tom Clarke congratulates AIC for its Create the Future of Sport Maxim Award.

Congrats AIC team!

The LeBron James Innovation Center was recognized on Thursday night with a Maxim Award for Create the Future of Sport. If you missed it, you can watch our own Meghan Simmons and Chris Page accept the award on the team’s behalf here , at the 2:46 mark. Along with our building, it was the hard work of the teammates who brought our facility to life and the teams who continue to deliver game-changing work from it who are the true MVPs. That’s all of you.

The Maxim says those who Create the Future of Sport are constantly curious. They bring great ideas to the table. And they build on the great ideas of others. I am incredibly proud of this team for exhibiting these behaviors every day as we chart the path for the next 50+ years of innovation at Nike.

We share this award with the Consumer Create team in the Serena building, further cementing the important relationship between art and science and our teams. I also want to give a special shout out to our partners in Workplace Design + Connectivity, Global Operations and Technology. While we accepted the award for Create the Future , we equally won this one as a team.

With appreciation,
Tom

Happy 10th Anniversary Flyknit!

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 02:51:26 GMT

Join us in wishing Flyknit a Happy 10th Anniversary !

You could win a pair of anniversary edition Nike Air Max Flyknit Racers.

In honor of the 10th anniversary of Nike Flyknit, the team is collecting fun and original videos that pay homage to the heritage and innovation of Flyknit.

Grab your iPhone, your crew and family members, and shoot a short Tik Tok style video while rocking your favorite Flyknit. D escribe what makes these sneakers special, and what Flyknit means to you. Your video could be featured in a special film and you could win a pair of edition shoes.

Start sharing on AIC's private Workvivo channel t oday!

Scientific Community Honors the NSRL

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 00:52:15 GMT

Scientific Community Honors the NSRL

Matt Nurse and Bridget Munro accept award on team's behalf.

Dr. Matthew Nurse, and the great work of the NSRL team, received the prestigious Jim Hay Award for excellence in biomechanics and advancing sport science during the NACOB annual conference in Calgary. NACOB is a joint meeting of the Canadian Society for Biomechanics and the American Society of Biomechanics. This award gave the NSRL the opportunity to celebrate the work that’s been done over the last 40 years and evangelize how Nike plans to invest in holistic athlete science for the future – including a more inclusive approach. Dr. Bridget Munro, who leads women’s science research for the NSRL, spoke to this, and emphasized Brabot along with Nike’s evolution of sports bras to serve more women.

"The NSRL left a lasting and important impact on the audience that science matters to Nike as we work toward making sport a daily habit – and it’s a competitive advantage," said Matt. One attendee said:

“It was so refreshing to hear the inclusive language and so different from how we typically speak as scientists and easy to connect with.”

Please join us in celebrating the NSRL in this achievement to advance the scientific community.

Misses and Makes

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 18:47:14 GMT

Misses and Makes Storytelling Series

At the AIC Innovation Fair last month, presenters embodied the passionate persistence it takes to shepherd an idea through to fruition. A Phil Knight quote on the wall in LBJ succinctly reminds us to “fail fast,” but the full context explains failing fast so you “still have enough time to implement the hard-won lessons.” Sometimes greatness shows up disguised as persistence, or, as Edgar Albert Guest rhapsodized, success is failure turned inside out .

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be collecting stories of those critical turning points where a project seemed destined to fail, but ultimately succeeded on account of gumption, creative ideas, or alternative solutions. If that sounds like something you’ve experienced in AIC, please consider sharing your story at: https://airtable.com/shreYbqiaCIbrNzI6 . You never know who you may inspire.

AIC Innovation Fair Recap

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 06:33:23 GMT

AIC Innovation Fair Recap

Go inside the fair where science and innovation are the main attractions.

Fair season came early for the residents of the LeBron James Innovation Center. On Tuesday, July 26, teammates from across AIC put their ideas and talents on display in the first AIC Innovation Fair. More than 30 innovators staffed booths reminiscent of an old school science fair, with boards describing the projects and samples for teammates to touch and feel. But there were no ribbons awarded at this fair. The reward was in the energy, engagement and

exchange of ideas felt by both presenters and attendees.

Take a look in the video recap below.

Watch the video with closed captioning .

Each Innovation Fair project set out to answer these four key questions:

What is the project/product?
What are your biggest challenges?
What excites you about this work?
What do you need from your teammates?

It's not too late for you to weigh in! A Miro board is actively capturing feedback and further ideation. Click on the image below to request access.

The AIC Innovation Fair will be held twice a year. Contact Katie McCollam and/or Dyanna Garcia for questions about participation in upcoming fairs.

Start Together, Stay Together

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 23:04:49 GMT

Start Together, Stay

Together

A Message from Tom Clarke:

Thanks to all of the panelists, Diversity Advisory Committee members, Community Crew leaders, AIC leaders – and let’s not forget the pickleballers! – for bringing our theme of Start Together, Stay Together to life. We heard several examples of how working as a Collective helped move work forward faster and with greater alignment – and made the work more fun and fulfilling. And we were reminded of some of the ways our teammates are creating safe spaces for our Collective to show up authentically, seek support and have a voice in shaping the community we want to see here in AIC.

As we continue into the first half of the new fiscal year, it’s important that we maintain this Collective energy, starting together with a shared set of priorities and staying the course. Because a team that stays together, also wins together. I am optimistic about FY23 and even more confident that this team will show resilience and resolve no matter what outside pressures come our way.

I’m happy to be starting the year with all of you,

Tom

Messages for Mike

Mike Yonker, outgoing VP of NXT, spoke during the Cafe Meeting. (His section begins at the 40-minute mark.) Mike is retiring on Sept. 1, 2022, and left us all with several nuggets of wisdom he's gained during his time with the team. And yes, there were some tears - but not from who you'd expect.

A book containing images from Mike's time with AIC is at the front desk of the LeBron James Innovation Center. There are blank spaces to write notes or sketches, or whatever form of well wishes best suits you. Join us in sending Mike off on his retirement adventure by adding your name to the memory book. When you're ready, and up until August 26, ask any of our LBJIC Experience teammates for the book. And enjoy the memories!

Questions? Contact Monique Richmire .

Teammates Who Play Pickleball Together, Stay Together

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 22:46:11 GMT

Teammates Who Pickleball Together ...

A recap in photos from the First Annual AIC Pickleball Tournament.

Doubling Up
AIC teammates brought their competitive spirit to the makeshift pickleball court on LBJ-4 June 29, ahead of the AIC Cafe Meeting. Seasoned pickleballers partnered with baby dills, friendships were formed and doors broken (sorry Chris Page!). It was the perfect display of 'Start Together, Stay Together,' which was the theme of the day.

In the end, there could only be one winning team. The title of Most Kosher went to husband and wife duo, Sam and Melissa.

Even the runners up weren't too sour. Billie (the waffle) helped sweeten the mood, presenting Sarah and Paulina with giant jars of chill dills.

Continue the Conversation

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 17:23:09 GMT

Continue the Conversation

The AIC DEI Library is open on the second floor of the LBJIC. Here are a few of the titles you'll find in the AIC DEI Library.

Where We Stand: Class Matters
Drawing on both her roots in Kentucky and her adventures with Manhattan co-op boards, Bell Hooks provides a successful black woman's reflection, personal, straight forward , and rigorously honest on how our dilemmas of class and race are intert wined, and how we can find ways to think beyond them.

A Terrible Thing To Waste: Environmental Racism And Its Assault On The American Mind

From lead poisoning to toxic waste, Americans of color are disproportionately harmed by environmental hazards. This is detrimental to physical health — air pollution is linked with higher COVID-19 death rates, according to Harvard researchers. But Washington also argues that environmental racism is causing cognitive decline in communities of color. A deconstruction of IQ and an indictment of EPA rollbacks, A Terrible Thing To Waste is a stirring read.

Song of Solomon
By Toni Morrison, this novel challenges the question of African-American identity and relationships among African Americans and between black and white individuals and commun ities.

A Poem for Peter
Andrea Davis Pinkney’s lyrical narrative tells the inspiring story of a boy who pursued a dream, and who, in turn, inspired generations of other dreamers.

Bebe Vio on coaching and her academy

Mon, 16 May 2022 21:30:09 GMT

May 16, 2022

A Message From Tom Clarke:

My Conversation with Bebe Vio

Nike’s newest anthem film, " Seen It All ," debuted worldwide on May 16, 2022. The film captures some of the biggest sport moments over Nike’s 50 years. I’ve been here for 42 of those years and many of the moments seemed unbeatable at the time. But that’s the beauty of sport and the power of innovation. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, a new discovery, capability, material, moonshot or barrier-breaking athlete comes onto the scene and recalibrates your sense of awe.

This happened to me earlier this month when I had the opportunity to sit down with Bebe Vio . Bebe is a decorated wheelchair fencer from Italy who, at 11 years old, lost both of her arms and legs to meningitis. After several months of rehab Bebe returned to fencing and teaching those younger and older than herself that athletes are not defined by the parts you can see; but rather, by what’s inside.

One of topics I asked Bebe about was the role that her coaches play in her success. “They believe in me more than I believe in myself,” she said. She also talked about how her coaches’ young kids will call after a match and ask if “we” won, which drove home an important point about any team – that an individual’s success is the team’s success and vice versa.

Watch my full interview with Bebe here and share what resonated with you.

nike-aic-duda

Test of Matterport

Test of Matterport

Aerogami Featured in RW Cover Story

Aerogami on Cover of Runner's World Italia September Issue

Soil Science

Soil Science

Learn from industry leaders in regenerative agriculture

Supporting Athletes in Recovery

Supporting Athletes in Recovery

NSRL Delivers New Tools Ahead of Women’s World Cup

Momentum for Motiva through NRC

Momentum for Motiva through NRC

Innovating with Purpose: Bra Pilot

Katie McCollam Helps Women Make Sport a Daily Habit, One Bra at a Time

Sports Bra Pilot Now Live at WHQ Sports Centers

Leader Voices: Patrick Regan

AIC Takes Café Meeting on the Road to APCC

Miss the meeting (and the giveaways)? Watch and read below for a chance to walk or jog away with a pair of Nike Motiva.

Building Capacity

﻿ Click on the Image to Download the Full Guide

JAM Team Gives Back to Breaking Community

JAM Team Gives Back to Breaking Community

Learn more about the organizations selected to receive grant money.

Bgirl City

BreakinMia

Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) Thinking with Bob Moesta

Master Class with Bob Moesta

Offered to AIC Teammates by Registration

AIC Innovation Fair, Jan. 2023

AIC Innovation Fair: Sustainability Remix

See how AIC is envisioning a Planet Positive Future.

Serving Her in Motherhood

Serving Her in Motherhood

By Vidya Spandana, Head of Nike Valiant Labs

AIC's Namrata Amin Featured in NIKE, Inc.'s FY22 Impact Report

AIC Namrata Amin Featured in NIKE, Inc.'s FY22 Impact Report

Serving Athletes* through Community – Momentum

Serving Athletes Through Community – Momentum

NVL Creates Digital Innovation Tied Directly to Physical Innovation (for Her)

What is Momentum?

Building Community

Serving the Athlete* - Key Learnings

Scaling Impact

AIC-First Opportunity: Running Analysis

NSRL Brings Running Analysis Service to AIC First

Secure your spot now!

Innovation Fair Returns

Innovation Fair Returns

With the theme of sustainability at the forefront, AIC teams present in-flight work in a science fair-style event.

Tuesday, Jan. 24:

INNOVATION FAIR

LBJ-4 + PINK BUCKET

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

AIC teams will spotlight, inspire and share existing sustainability work in a science fair-style setting.

NEW AIC SUSTAINABILITY VISION SHARE-OUT: PLANET POSITIVE FUTURE

LBJ-2, STADIUM SEATS

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. (followed by Q&A, Happy Hour until 4:30 p.m.

Seana Hannah, VP of AIC Sustainability, and Abby Waldorf, AIC Sustainability Strategy, will present their new vision and field questions.

Wednesday, Jan. 25:

GUIDED MEDITATION

NSRL - TURF

9 - 10 a.m.

Kick off the day mindfully with a seated, guided meditation on the NSRL Turf.

A CONVERSATION WITH JENNIFER HOLMGREN , CEO LANZATECH

10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

LBJ-2, STADIUM SEATS

Hear from this AIC partner whose company is a leader in developing cutting edge. carbon transformation technology. Learn more here .

Thursday , Jan. 2 6 :

CHARACTER BUILDING WORKSHOP

PINK BUCKET

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

New Year's Resolutions: Are They a Do or Don't?

New Year's Resolutions: Are they a Do or a Don't?

NSRL Mind Science Advisors Weigh In

AIC: Are resolutions a ‘do’ or a ‘don’t?’

AIC: What are some of the biggest gotchas/mistakes people make when setting resolutions?

AIC: Is there any scientific evidence that resolutions work?

AIC: Instead of (or in addition to) resolutions, how can people get off to a strong start for wellness and making sport a daily habit in the New Year?

AIC: What are your resolutions for 2023?

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Innovators honor Thunderbird pilots with limited edition gloves.