Career Spotlight on Former Nike Marketing Manager Les Green

The sneaker industry is full of career opportunities. While sneaker design is one of the most sought after paths, there is a huge variety of other jobs and careers to pursue. The Sneaker Essentials course was designed to give students an inside look at all of the possible career paths and help them capitalize on their unique skills to carve out their own path . From marketing to design to engineering, there is a career opportunity for everyone.

Sneaker Essentials recently sat down with Teespring’s Vice President of Marketing, Les Green, to talk about some of the things he has accomplished across the industry. Green has held down some key positions in the sneaker industry. He has worked with some of the world’s most influential brands for over 18 years. He served as Nike Africa Marketing Director, Nike Mexico’s Senior Brand Director, Senior Brand Director Nike By You, and Global Brand Director Nike Sportswear. He played a key role in some important campaigns and product launches. He worked on the Nike Tech Pack. the 2012 Olympics, and Nike by you (which most people may know as Nike I.D.).

“I don’t want that exclusivity of product to

translate into exclusivity of talent and opportunity”

Check out the clip above to hear Les talk about breaking down barriers to breaking into the industry. Visit Sneaker Essentials to find out if a career in sneakers is right for you – and for more knowledge from former Nike Marketing Manager, Les Green.

Reebok x Yellowbrick Want You to #WriteYourLegacy

“Legacy isn’t just what you leave behind, it’s what you create” – #WriteYourLegacy

Reebok silhouettes have a solid place in sneaker culture history. From the colorful 5411s that got their name because of their price plus tax to the Iverson legacy that followed him even after his career ended, their silhouettes and styles tell stories that will live on forever. There is so much to be said about creating something that’ll have a permanent place in the history of sneaker culture. Sneaker culture has been carefully curated for years. Whether it is a shoe design or an editorial written about a moment, playing a role in shaping the culture is epic. If you are a High School student with a design dream who wants to earn his/her spot in sneaker culture, this contest is for you. 

Reebok and Yellowbrick have teamed up to help give young designers a chance to earn their spot in sneaker history. Fifteen High School students will have a chance at a mentorship opportunity with Xavier Jones, one of Reebok’s leading designers. Aside from an amazing mentorship opportunity, the chosen fifteen will also have a chance at a two-month apprenticeship with the brand and a chance to reimagine an iconic Reebok Classics silhouette. The application is open until April 15, 2020 @ 5pm EST. If you are a high school student or know a high school student who is ready to get their design on, click here to apply.

If a career in sneakers is something that you are interested in, visit Sneaker Essentials for more information. 

MARTkd: How To Become A Sneaker Designer

Exclusive Conversation | MARTk’d Series: Episode 1 of 6

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Sneaker Design is probably the most popular career choice for people that want to work in the sneaker industry. Design has evolved over time and we have seen everything from innovative new silhouettes to daring collabs. Daring colorways are pushing the envelope and the classics are making a comeback with a twist. All of these things happen because of the designer and the ideas that they bring to the table. Episode 1 of the MARTk’d Webinar Series will tell you everything you need to know to get in the game.  

The MARTk’d live series kicked off with How To Become A Sneaker Designer. Supported by Pensole, Yellowbrick’s Dion Walcott had a live conversation with Director/Artist/Designer Alexander John, and Dr. D’Wayne Edwards (Founder of Pensole Academy). If sneaker design is something that you’re passionate about then this is the conversation for you. They dropped gems for people who are looking to get into design and how to become relevant in the space. To see the replay, you can sign up for the viewer link by dropping your email address in the space provided above. If you are ready to take your next steps in design, whether it’s in the sneaker industry or fashion/streetwear industry, visit Yellowbrick.co to find out how.

Sneakerschool Grad Jae Tips Gives Us An Inside Look At His Passion for Sneakers

When you have a passion for sneakers, finding a career in the industry seems like a stretch. Sneakerschool grad John Cotton, aka @JaeTips, is a sneakerhead at heart. His love for sneakers has been a thing since he was a kid. As he got older, he found ways to turn his passion into profit so that he could potentially pursue a career in the sneaker industry. 

He decided to try his hand at sneaker design and headed over to the Nike Bespoke lab in New York City. There, with the help of the designers (who are also Sneakerschool students),  he brought his sneaker idea to life. He created his iconic 1 of 1 shoe. His “Air Tips” design is one for the books and has been the talk of the town since its creation. As a final project, students have to create an unboxing video and Jae Tips used his famed Bespoke 1 of 1 for his presentation. We bumped into John at ComplexCon Chicago this past summer (pre-Air Tips) and watching him grow through his sneaker passion into potential designer status is dope. 

In this live ZOOM, he tells us all about his sneaker journey, shows off his unboxing final Sneakerschool project, and answers viewer questions about how to turn your passion into a career. ICYMI, drop your email in the section below to hear the whole convo. If a career in the sneaker industry is something you want to know more about, visit Yellowbrick.co/sneakers for info. 

Students get insider access to key areas of the industry with 45+ on-demand video lessons, and build real-world skills through self-paced projects and simulations.

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