Rebellious Optimists - A People Podcast from adidas: Recent Episodes
adidas GamePlan-A.com
These are the stories from inside one of the world’s biggest brands, told by the people who are pushing boundaries, driving innovation, and calling the shots on what adidas sells; who they hire; how they operate.
Host Twiggy Jalloh speaks to people from across the adidas business, to reveal how their rebellious optimism is fueling success. She dives deep into their careers, development, successes and failures, to meet the team members pushing things forward at one of the most famous sports brands in the world.
Whether it is innovating record-breaking products, creating sports-lifestyle trends, driving sustainability, or pioneering new digital tech… find out more about the people, processes, and culture of adidas at their corporate blog www.GamePlan-A.com.
Main topics discussed: (timestamps)
04:17 How the Black Lives Matter movement accelerated adidas’ response to racism
12:52 Why Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is more than just a HR function
14:46 The importance of speaking up on issues and making your voice heard
22:15 The best way to affect and make change, every day
Quotes:
“I don't have a lane. If you stay in your lane and you see injustice or wrongdoing, you have to step out of that and and do the right thing”
“Climb your way. Get those doors open and leave them open for everybody else"
"Leadership should create the right opportunities for underrepresented groups to make sure that they become the next generation of leaders"
Host: Twiggy Jalloh
This Week’s Guest: Hannah Mercer
Links to resources:
- Hear our conversation about DEI with Amanda Rajkumer, Board Member for HR, People and Culture at adidas
- Why you need safe spaces in the workplace to tackle racism
- Learn how adidas employees unite against racism
More Rebellious Optimism:
Subscribe to the adidas Company Blog and follow us on LinkedIn
Rebellious Optimists is an official Podcast Show from adidas and our company blog www.GamePlan-A.com.
Rebellious Optimists supports the mission of ‘GamePlan A’ to upgrade our work lives through sport and creativity.
See simplecast.com/privacy/ for privacy and opt-out information
Main topics discussed: (timestamps)
10:12 – Why innovation is crucial to a more biodiverse future
11:59 – Angela’s three key aspects of sustainability
13:30 – How we can make more sustainable choices as consumers
24:28 – The importance of staying optimistic during hard times
Quotes:
“We all need to be critical and spend a couple of minutes to read about where that product is coming from and what that product is made of.”
“Innovation is key, [its] the enabler to bring the new ideas and technologies that we need to bring products to life in a better way.”
“Sustainability is a practice that it needs to be embedded in order to be truthful and meaningful. But it's a journey. It never stops.”
Host: Twiggy Jalloh
This Week’s Guest: Angela Mantilla
Links to resources:
- More about the process of developing the original Futurecraft Footprint shoe and how it came to life.
- Hear the story from the side of the collaborating partner – Allbirds co-CEO Tim Brown
- More sustainability on Rebellious Optimists - adidas Head of Sustainability explains the company’s ambitious targets and how they aim to achieve them.
More Rebellious Optimism:
Subscribe to the adidas Company Blog and follow us on LinkedIn
Rebellious Optimists is an official Podcast Show from adidas and our company blog www.GamePlan-A.com.
Rebellious Optimists supports the mission of ‘GamePlan A’ to upgrade our work lives through sport and creativity.
See simplecast.com/privacy/ for privacy and opt-out information
Main topics discussed: (timestamps)
03:57 - The three key areas of adidas’ sustainability strategy
12:19 - The biggest challenges to being a sustainable company
21:07 - Facing the fear and coming out of your comfort zone
22:21 - How you can adopt a more sustainable approach
Quotes:
“We've made sustainability part of our DNA. It's part of who we are, why we come to work and why we are so motivated to contribute.”
“Often, we start with a blank sheet of paper. We don't know what the solution is but we know the direction we want to work towards.”
“With sustainability, the huge privilege is that I get to work not only on impacting the lives around me but also on the lives of future generations.”
Host: Twiggy Jalloh
This Week’s Guest: Katja Schreiber
Links to resources:
- Read Katja’s article on how adidas are going to get to carbon neutrality.
- The history of the adidas x Parley partnership, one of their first sustainable collaborations
- How adidas is supporting its staff to think and act sustainably
More Rebellious Optimism:
Subscribe to the adidas Company Blog and follow us on LinkedIn
Rebellious Optimists is an official Podcast Show from adidas and our company blog www.GamePlan-A.com.
Rebellious Optimists supports the mission of ‘GamePlan A’ to upgrade our work lives through sport and creativity.
See simplecast.com/privacy/ for privacy and opt-out information
Main topics discussed: (timestamps)
09:29 – adidas' approach to sourcing sustainable and ethical products
11:55 – Understanding the choices you make as a consumer
15:43 – Three core beliefs for aspirational leadership
23:48 – How you can affect positive change within your own work
Quotes:
“Regardless of your position, you should always treat people how you want to be treated.”
“Why have I stayed at adidas so long? It really boils down to three things for me. The culture, our values and purpose, and career opportunity.”
“Leadership is both a privilege and responsibility. Your influence can affect the trajectory of people’s entire careers, and often their lives as well.”
Host: Twiggy Jalloh
This Week’s Guest: Hoa Ly
Links to resources:
- Look at some of the innovative sustainable materials that adidas is developing with their partners.
- Read Hoa’s article about showing vulnerability in leadership
More Rebellious Optimism:
Subscribe to the adidas Company Blog and follow us on LinkedIn
Rebellious Optimists is an official Podcast Show from adidas and our company blog www.GamePlan-A.com.
Rebellious Optimists supports the mission of ‘GamePlan A’ to upgrade our work lives through sport and creativity.
See simplecast.com/privacy/ for privacy and opt-out information
Main topics discussed:
03:10 - The challenges and transformation of adidas Outdoor
08:28 - Combining technical products and sustainability in the Outdoor market
10:30 - adidas' sustainable FUTURECRAFT:LOOP mono-material anorak
23:05 - Inspiring creativity in your teams
Quotes:
“We're about being rebellious and optimistic. That's at the core of who we are. Rebellious optimists.”
“When you make fire, when you make a hot outdoor product, people just want to rock it. People don't think ‘this is my jacket for when I go hiking’. They want to wear it every day.”
“We're going to be unapologetic. We're going to be adidas. We’re going to do our thing.”
Host: Twiggy Jalloh
This Week’s Guest: Andre Doxey
Links to resources:
-
The story of the Loop Jacket, Made to be Remade, and the adidas journey to creating recyclable clothing.
-
How the adidas Superstar… the Shell Toe…became a cultural icon.
-
Adi Dassler – adidas founder, and the original Rebellious Optimist.
More Rebellious Optimism:
Subscribe to the adidas Company Blog and follow us on LinkedIn
Rebellious Optimists is an official Podcast Show from adidas and our company blog www.GamePlan-A.com.
Rebellious Optimists supports the mission of ‘GamePlan A’ to upgrade our work lives through sport and creativity.
See simplecast.com/privacy/ for privacy and opt-out information
Main topics discussed: (timestamps)
5:05 - adidas’ vision for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
14:38 - The Diversity Dimension Data Project
18:45 - adidas' people strategy bringing more women into senior leadership positions
20:14 - The importance of allyship and mentorship
Quotes:
“Allyship is being a friend, a support to individuals who are different to yourself.”
“We need the help of our male colleagues, to address that gender imbalance at the top of the company. To have them being the best advocates for all employees, including women.”
“We want to make sure there is an equal starting line for everybody at adidas. And that everyone will get the same fair opportunity and chances”
Host: Twiggy Jalloh
This Week’s Guest: Amanda Rajkumar
Links to resources:
-
Amanda’s article on why we need International Women’s Day
-
Sport is for everybody: The power of being an ally
-
Leaders helping diverse voices be heard
More Rebellious Optimism:
Subscribe to the adidas Company Blog and follow us on LinkedIn
Rebellious Optimists is an official Podcast Show from adidas and our company blog www.GamePlan-A.com.
Rebellious Optimists supports the mission of ‘GamePlan A’ to upgrade our work lives through sport and creativity.
See simplecast.com/privacy/ for privacy and opt-out information
Main topics discussed: (including timestamps)
06:11 - The science behind the 'super shoe'
13:53 - How athletes informed the Adizero Adios Pro
15:25 - Breaking world records at the ‘adidas Road to Records’ races
23:54 - Embodying a competitive streak into your work
Quotes:
“The recipe to success is relatively easy. Start with the greatest team.”
“Majambo: Something new, something out there, something that they hadn’t felt before”
“Be brave enough to put what you thought was the best into the bin and start all over again"
Host: Twiggy Jalloh
This Week’s Guest: Stephan Scholten
Links and resources:
- The Road to Records event in FULL
- The importance of relationships in a winning team - article
- Adizero Adios Pro 2: See the latest model that Stephan talks about
More Rebellious Optimism:
Subscribe to the adidas Company Blog and follow us on LinkedIn
Rebellious Optimists is an official Podcast Show from adidas and our company blog www.GamePlan-A.com.
Rebellious Optimists supports the mission of ‘GamePlan A’ to upgrade our work lives through sport and creativity.
See simplecast.com/privacy/ for privacy and opt-out information
Main topics discussed:
05:03 - From an adidas internship to Director of Automation
12:35 - The key to unlocking the success in automation
15:00 - How automation brings value to our lives and work
20:00 - Where is this technology headed in the future?
Quotes:
"Failure culture is important, because it boosts creativity and innovation.”
“When people think about automation, they are thinking about movies and super-robots taking over the world…..this is not realistic”
“I see a future where virtual employees are interacting with employees and working together as a part of one big ecosystem.”
Host: Twiggy Jalloh
This Week’s Guest: Moh Ghadban https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhdghadban/
Links and resources:
- Moh’s article about using task automation to make time for more creative work
- Another great story of career progression – from Intern to Vice President.
More Rebellious Optimism:
Subscribe to the adidas Company Blog and follow us on LinkedIn
Rebellious Optimists is an official Podcast Show from adidas and our company blog www.GamePlan-A.com.
Rebellious Optimists supports the mission of ‘GamePlan A’ to upgrade our work lives through sport and creativity.
See simplecast.com/privacy/ for privacy and opt-out information
Main topics discussed:
08:14 - The Bra Revolution
15:19 - The innovation behind Stay In Play technology
21:54 - Finding the courage to keep pushing for positive change
25:02 - Impossible is Nothing
Key Quotes:
“Sometimes failures turn into sparks for great innovation.”
“We have a responsibility to put a spotlight on women in sport and 'dimensionalise' female athletes.”
“I encourage people to identify your fear and get past it, so that you can be unstoppable.”
“I was having lunch with our CEO…I said, Kasper, do you know what backfat is?”
Host: Twiggy Jalloh
This Week’s Guest: Aimee Arana, Global General Manager adidas Sportswear & Training
Also mentioned : Kasper Rorsted, adidas CEO
Links and resources:
- The Bra Revolution range, including the Everyday bra Aimee likes
- Impossible is Nothing campaign
- Stay in Play period-proof tights
- How adidas is tackling barriers to women in sport
More Rebellious Optimism:
Subscribe to the adidas Company Blog and follow us on LinkedIn
Rebellious Optimists is an official Podcast Show from adidas and our company blog www.GamePlan-A.com.
Rebellious Optimists supports the mission of ‘GamePlan A’ to upgrade our work lives through sport and creativity.
See simplecast.com/privacy/ for privacy and opt-out information