amazing<\/em> feeling. I bought two pairs! I still have them.<\/p>\nWhat are you most passionate about in footwear?<\/h2>\n I started working in footwear when a lot of women, especially on the West Coast, were not wearing sneakers for fashion. They were wearing them for function or to \u201cdress-down.\u201d After a while, I realized it was because they didn\u2019t know how to rock a pair of sneakers and still feel as confident as they did when they wore heels.<\/p>\n
I made it my thing to wear sneakers just as much as I wore any other footwear choice, and in my own little way, influence the perception of women who wore sneakers. You could still be just as beautiful, sexy and confident while wearing sneakers.<\/p>\n
Fast forward to today and women are wearing sneakers everywhere! To their jobs, to the club, to their weddings\u2026 And we\u2019re just getting started. Women are not only wearing sneakers — we\u2019re creating them, we\u2019re telling the stories, we\u2019re collaborating and we\u2019re empowering each other by recognizing each other whenever we can!<\/p>\n
I\u2019m passionate about a lot of things, but when I see a woman (in or out of the industry) confidently wearing her sneakers and being unapologetically her<\/em>, it makes my heart beat fast.<\/p>\nLaToya hosting an event interview with Aleali May.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhat was the turning point of your career?<\/h2>\n I\u2019ve had a lot of really great lessons that I\u2019ve learned over the years that have come through failure, experimentation and curiosity. But I had one very supportive mentor\/manager, Kate Ridley, that really encouraged me to lean into my voice and not be afraid to be my authentic self.<\/p>\n
After \u201cmastering\u201d my then-role, I casually told Kate that I was \u201cbored at work.\u201d She told me that if I\u2019m bored, that\u2019s my own fault and I should figure out a way to not be bored and instead be creative and be innovative. I went on to write my own job description and whenever I get \u201cbored\u201d in any role, I take it upon myself to change the way things are done, to learn something new or explore new opportunities.<\/p>\n
It changed the way that I think and it also taught me to hone in on the skills that I bring to the table, allowing me to discover my superpower and to confidently maneuver through the industry.<\/p>\nLaToya & friends at the “Women In Footwear” dinner.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhat is your biggest struggle with the footwear industry as a person of color?<\/h2>\n I read a quote by Martin Luther King Jr.: \u201cThere is nothing more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.\u201d This quote spoke volumes to me because I often feel that within this industry, there is a clear lack of diversity and a sincere ignorance around effective initiatives to improve diversity. Many plans sound great but lack a concentrated effort to take insights from those that are most affected by these issues and the initiatives often times fall short and the cycle continues.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just about solving diversity, it\u2019s about finding out what diversity truly is and empowering those that understand its true meaning with the ability to affect change. I think it is dangerous in so many ways to cultivate an industry that does not celebrate diversity and the critical impact that are made by people of color in the culture. It hinders the growth of the industry and it discourages our youth.<\/p>\n
Sincere ignorance is not<\/em> an excuse. A lack of diversity and the representation of people of color is not a problem, it\u2019s an opportunity. One that includes growth on every aspect of the industry.<\/p>\nWhat is your biggest accomplishment or legacy you\u2019d like to leave in the industry?<\/h2>\n A couple of years ago I began teaching a Footwear Product Marketing course at Portland State University. It gave me the ability to connect with students that aspire to work in the footwear industry. It\u2019s a fun job, but more than that it allows me to help students learn the ropes about the industry, connect with industry professionals and become equipped with the tools to provide value to the footwear industry immediately.<\/p>\n
More than anything, I want my legacy to be about pulling through people, the same way those before me pulled for me.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Read more about THE FUTURE 50 here:<\/em> NiceKicks.com\/Future50<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
words \/\/ Nick DePaula: When you combine a passion for creativity and expression with a knowledge of building product and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142940,"featured_media":894896,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1225574],"tags":[1237749,1225575],"cultivate_rss":[],"class_list":{"2":"type-post"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
THE FUTURE 50 \/\/ LaToya Kamara Manley of Jordan Brand | Snkrs Day<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n