Negin Mani

After five years of dedication and taking any position Nike offered me just so I could keep my foot in the door, I promoted into my target role as the Associate Product Line Manager for Women’s Air Max. The instant they gave me this assignment, I hit the ground running and was able to fully bring the 3-year strategy I began planning since day 1 to life in market. Although my title was at an Associate level, I stepped up in several ways, taking on responsibilities that stretched well beyond my job description, functioning more precisely as a Product Manager. I was the driver of product creation for 53% of the Women’s Air Max line, a business that brings in a total of $1.4Billion annually. I studied market trends and sales data to ensure my products were targeted to the consumer and positioned to sell quickly and sustainably. All aspects of product creation from brief to box fell under my purview, and to make sure we stayed on schedule, I performed collaborative aerobics to align multiple departments. I pitched ideas and influenced decision-makers, guided the design teams through creation, ensuring budgets were met and margins were robust. This is a summary of my contributions to date: ▻ The product lines I managed from 2020 to 2023 will bring in $2.8Billion in revenues. ▻ During Covid, while we learned to work remotely and business slowed down, I still managed to grow my side by 23%. ▻ I have been in charge of several hot sellers including quickstrikes. For example, my AM90 line has grown to become 12% of the Women's Air Max business, and my AM97 Swarovski sold out in minutes. ▻ I brought two new creations into the line: Air Max 90 Futura and Air Max Bliss ▻ I wrote the 3-year strategy for our Sub-120/Access line, and it is forecasted to be a $390M business ▻ I was the Product Line Manager for Serena Williams Design Crew for cohort 1.5 and 2. ▻ I also engaged in sustainability initiatives – 3 Air Max classics are now made with 20% recycled material

• Cultivate leadership and team excellence by creating strong team culture/bond. • Team building, meeting/event planning, calendar support, budget management, internal project management, and inception of Wellness Day. • Enable product creation excellence on AF1 and Modern Running businesses through partnership/collaboration with cross-functional teammates, commitment and enthusiasm for product line creation process, systems and tools maintenance, strong consumer connection, product briefing, and presentation.

• Develop and manage recruitment travel calendar • Plan and execute over 100 on and off campus recruiting events including Nike Brand Heat Events in Chicago and Boston engaging over 2,000 students • Build and maintain relationships with over forty-five college and university partners across the nation • Work and collaborate with senior leadership across 15 business functions to build, plan and execute full-time and intern graduate and undergraduate recruitment

This was a side gig I took in between jobs at Nike. At the time I had tapped out on all of my allowable Nike contracts jobs, and until they could open a new position for me, I did some branding and marketing for my favorite gym. Hardly a job, they paid me in free membership, and in return, I had to be present 5 days a week, work out, and convince other people why they should be members there too. It was fun and it forced me to be at the gym everyday.

• Assisted in the product creation and development process of Nike Women’s Training Apparel focused specifically on Nike Pro and Statement Bottoms/Coverups • Communicated and collaborated with 26 different cross functional partners throughout a product’s lifestyle to ensure accurate messaging is portrayed from product creation to merchandising to global geographies to retail • Analyzed competitive landscape from a pricing, style count, color way count, and brand following perspective • Created and managed seasonal visual line plan tools • Oversaw seasonal sample management and organization process through various product gates, including Category Alignment, Assortment Finalization, and GTM

• Partnered with NA Brand Digital Marketing to plan and implement Nike Collegiate FY16/17 Marketing Campaign • Planned and executed over 100 on and off campus recruiting events including Nike Brand Heat Events in Chicago and Boston engaging over 2,000 students • Built and maintained relationships with over forty-five college and university partners across the nation • Worked and collaborated with senior leadership across 15 business functions to build, plan and execute full-time and intern graduate and undergraduate recruitment

• Utilize customer service skills, sales techniques, and product knowledge to connect consumers with the right product • Build the bond between consumer and brand by providing elevated services and sharing brand stories • Seek ongoing training and education to further develop product and retail knowledge • Assist with loss prevention efforts by providing proactive customer service

• Helped develop a Diversity and Inclusion strategic plan for the upcoming fiscal year • Facilitated meetings with employee network leaders to help drive Diversity and Inclusion Strategy • Designed an agenda for North America Human Resources offsite meeting • Collaborated with VP of Human Resources to formulate an Organizational Productivity Strategy

Started a non-profit organization that provides workshops at schools around the country and mentors children in leadership techniques and how to stop bullying. • Oversaw the strategic direction and expansion of organization chapters • Designed programs for the enhancement of facilitator training and/or chapter growth • Expanded into 16 Boys and Girls Clubs in the Greater San Diego area in the Spring 2013 • Won 3rd place in Social Innovation Challenge and received a prize of $4,000 • Initiated international expansion plan in both high schools and universities worldwide • Assessed, reported, and synthesized chapters’ growth, well-being, and current status • Maintained collaborative and open communication with Chapter Expansion Associate • Developed growth plans and strategic goals based on Chapter Expansion Associate’s reports and overall chapter assessments

• Interviewed and hired staff of Team Advisors • Created daily schedule of activities for each program session • Secured facility visits and guest speakers • Prepared program materials, academic simulations, workshops and activities • Assisted in teaching/coordination of workshops and leadership simulation exercises • Managed program’s staff and facilitated meetings

As the youngest member to graduate from my cohort and school, I spent my two years at USD's School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES) taking relevant courses to advance my leadership and analytical skills. My program offered a hands on experience where I was able to go beyond a classroom education by practicing various leadership skills such as, consulting a nonprofit organization, providing coaching to clients, and studying group dynamics as they emerged. Furthermore, I also had the opportunity to take a negotiations course in the MBA program that allowed me to practice various types of negotiation in weekly simulations. During my time at SOLES, I also served as a graduate assistant where I assisted all programs and departments and was as the first point of contact for all visitors and prospective students.

During the course of my undergraduate career at the University of San Diego, I was very much involved on campus as a collegiate dancer/cheerleader on the Torero Spirit Team for three years, a member of greek life through Kappa Kappa Gamma, and a representative of the Leadership Advisory Board. I also had the opportunity to co-instruct a freshman leadership course in the Leadership Minor alongside a doctoral student. As an instructor of the course, I lead classroom activities, facilitated and instructed lessons in class, and collaborated with my co-instructor to write up lesson-plans, instruct class, and grade coursework.