Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man's World

by Lauren Fleshman

Everyone has this inner critic sabotaging them, but women especially experience this, as we are squeezed from all sides. We presented a concept for a product line that helped women shift their mindset away from negative chatter and anchor it back onto themselves. It was a way to stay with yourself rooted in elite sport, but applicable to everyone. We delivered a case for a woman-centered marketing approach that diverged significantly from the norm. Nike Brand loved it. The women’s category loved it. Girl Effect, the nonprofit affiliated with Nike that empowered girls through sport, loved it. Nobody seemed to know how we’d get paid, but the easiest business path would be if we were sponsored athletes on the roster. My contract with Nike was up in a couple of months. Ro’s New Balance contract was up soon, too. Feeling so much support for our idea within the company, I felt confident when I walked into Cap’s office that he would finally see the fullness of what I had to offer. I