10 Lessons I Learned From My 8 Years at Nike

Nike isn’t just a great consumer brand. It has an incredible culture of growth and development that, in my opinion, is unmatched.

I was lucky enough to work there for 8 years in the London Marketing team. Here are 10 of the biggest lessons I learned during that time:

1. You’ll reach your potential faster with the support of others

I’m an introvert. I get energy from working alone. But even as someone who thrives in solo mode, it became clear: reaching my highest potential was only possible with help from others.

And if you think you’re already achieving wild success on your own - you’re probably not even close to your true potential. Let people in. Accept support. You’ll go further.

2. Leadership is a privilege

Nike builds leaders. I was lucky to have only one questionable boss during my 8 years.

Being someone’s “boss” is a big deal - and a privilege. How you show up every day matters. You have the power to shape someone’s career... and their whole experience of life. Don’t forget that.

3. Having a mentor will transform your career

I would never have achieved what I did without mentors. They didn’t have to support me - but they chose to.

Their belief and guidance helped me grow and eventually led to a promotion to Nike London’s Senior Leadership Team. I couldn’t have done it without them.

4. Don’t get so caught up internally that you forget the outside world

Nike was incredible. But once you're inside, it’s easy to forget that a world exists outside of it.

I spent most of my time focused on what was happening inside Nike. In hindsight, I wish I’d taken more time to build my career brand outside of it too.

5. Business is a team sport

If you want to thrive in business, you need to know how to be a team player.

Build relationships. Give people your time. Be supportive. Teams perform best when everyone plays their role.

6. It’s possible to really love what you do

99% of Mondays, I woke up excited to go to work. I genuinely loved my job and I was surrounded by some of the most brilliant and inspiring people I’ve ever met.

If you don’t feel this way about your job, start making a plan to find one that makes you love Mondays again.

7. Feeling like an imposter is a good thing

I joined Nike a year after moving from New Zealand to the UK. I was definitely not “cool enough” to work at Nike London. I was completely intimidated.

But I grew. I learned. I built real relationships. And I came to see that being out of your depth - feeling like an imposter - is where the magic happens. That’s when you grow.

8. Advocate for yourself — no one else will

In corporate life, self-promotion matters. You have to talk about your wins and be clear about where you want to go.

If you don’t speak up for yourself, someone else will take the opportunity you were perfect for. And yeah, it’ll sting.

9. Have a plan — even if it’s a loose one

One of my biggest mistakes was staying in a role too long without a plan. Because I wasn’t clear on what I wanted, I missed opportunities and couldn’t articulate where I wanted to go.

You don’t need a five-year roadmap. But even a rough direction is better than none. Without it, you risk going in circles.

10. Know when to quit

Leaving Nike felt like breaking up with someone I still loved. I didn’t want to go… but I knew it was time.

It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made. But the years that followed were the biggest growth years of my life. It was the right call, and I’ve never regretted it.