Nike Invests In Women’s Sport With Athlete Think Tank Initiative

Nike continues its commitment to supporting women athletes with a new initiative called the Athlete Think Tank.

The Athlete Think Tank was established so that Nike could hear directly from its elite women athletes from around the world, translating their expertise into valuable insights that improve the experience of girls and women in sport. The 13 founding athletes include Ada Hegerberg, Angela Davis, Bebe Vio, Dina Asher-Smith, Deyna Castellanos, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Nafissatou Thiam, Sabrina Ionescu, Scout Bassett, Serena Williams, Shalane Flanagan, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Simone Manuel.

“Having female athletes be part of these conversations is critical to not just Nike’s development as a company, but to sport development, in general,” says fencer and Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad.

As part of this initiative, NIKE, Inc. is also investing $1.3 million across 20 organizations through Charities Aid Foundation America, with funds given on each athlete’s behalf. Support will be given to organizations that align with the Athlete Think Tank’s goals: championing a sense of belonging for women and girls and breaking down barriers on and off the playing field.

“The selections athletes made for where to give back are all very personal,” says Tanya Hvizdak, VP of Nike Women’s Global Sports Marketing. “Serena Williams identified the Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, while Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce suggested her Pocket Rocket Foundation based in Kingston, Jamaica. Sabrina Ionescu highlighted the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, and Shalane Flanagan spotlighted both Marathon Kids and Amputee Blade Runners.”

Nike plans for the Athlete Think Tank are long-term, with hopes of growing the initiative by inviting more women from their roster. Together, the goal is to make an impact on the future of women’s sport and create a dedicated space for the company to listen and learn.