Ex-MS, Razorfish & W+K Shanghai reunion in Portland
Rebecca Dale – check
Jason White – check
Theresa Lim – check
Alistair Lennie – where are you?
Archive for the ‘Nike’ Category
The Reunion in Portland
In Nike, Travels on February 6, 2010 at 11:32Phil Knight + Theresa Lim = BFF
In Nike, Travels on February 3, 2010 at 12:11
The JDI Master
This encounter deserves an entire blog post on its own.
Date: 2 February 2010
Time: 13:20hrs
Theresa Lim may not work on Nike anymore, but Lady Nike still smiles upon her. So whilst scoffing my face with delicious pork loins at the Tarheel Cafe, and basking on the glorious fact that I’m at the Nike Campus on a sunny day in Beaverton, I thought, “Wow, this can’t get any better”. Wrong.
Not when one gets to spot an original Blue Ribbon who brought innovation, inspiration and technology to every athlete in the entire world – Mr Phil Knight. Someone’s day has just gotten A LOT better.
Plucking up loads of courage and putting shame at the door, I walked over, apologised for interrupting his lunch and then BAM! Celebrity-block. Help, I had forgotten how to speak. Hurry. Just say something. Anything. What came out was embarassing, “Hi, my name is Theresa & I’m from Shanghai. I just wanted you to know that you have been a huge inspiration to me.”
Massively retarded.
He clasped my hand with both of his hands and flashed me a huge toothy smile. Okay. Either he was pleased someone came up to him OR was secretly laughing at this little Asian weirdo fool. And I accept both assumptions. Why? Coz I shook his hand, innit. That’s all that matters. The end result.
We had a little chitty chatty about where I was from (he complimented me on my amazing oratorical skills – thank you), my unforgettable time on Team Nike China culminating with the Nike Campus AND seeing him in the glorious flesh. I think he liked that. As we bid farewell, he said he liked the Nike Sportswear silver puffer jacket I had on. This man has taste.
This beats shaking the hand of Prince Albert of Monaco back in 1996. Hands down.
The Swoosh and I
In Nike on January 28, 2010 at 16:45
When Nike throws you a farewell party, you know you’re family for life.
January Milestones:
22 Jan 2010: Theresa Lim bids Team Nike Mindshare farewell with Japanese food, bottomless beer + sake and karaoke.
25 Jan 1964: Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight founded Blue Ribbon Sports, which later came to be known as Nike Inc in 1978.
25 Jan 2010: Nike bids Robbie, Alistair and Theresa a final farewell at Mesa.
Saying goodbye is never easy. And how wonderful it is to actually have something that makes saying goodbye so so hard. In my farewell email to the family last week, I admitted how crap I am with goodbyes. Compounded with the wave of emotions when I look back at the the last 19 months and seeing what a long way I’ve come (both professionally and on a personal level), the wonderful bonds and friendships fostered and more importantly, embracing and living the spirit of passion and sports with panache – the Nike way.
As I move on to the next chapter of my career, I will take with me that spirit and all the wonderful and unforgettable experiences to be a better leader, colleague and person.
Amen to Nike. Just Do It.
