Bates Center for Entrepreneurship and Leadership

Nicole has been with the adidas brand for 21 years, splitting her tenure between the Portland and Herzogenaurach HQ’s.
She started as a PR Manager and every few years has taken on a new role - often creating new departments or initiatives. After eight years in Portland Nicole moved to the Germany  HQ in 2006 as the Global Head of Public Relations and to lead the creation of the Adi Dassler Fund –adidas’ philanthropic arm. When the company created a Sport Style Division in 2008 she was tapped to lead the Brand Marketing team with a focus on launching adidas Originals globally. In 2011 she took the helm of the Global Brand Marketing team overseeing both the Style and Sport Performance Divisions. After a brief hiatus to have her daughter she came back to lead a new department called Influencer Marketing which along with leading the Entertainment and Trend Marketing teams, also created adidas’ unique Newsroom network. This network was comprised of a team of Social, PR and Analytics specialists across 8 global cities. In 2016 she created the first Women’s SBP, bringing greater focus to the female consumer and building a plan for product, retail and activation to win her. Her latest endeavor is leading a new department called Global Purpose which provides strategic direction, messaging and programs around: Diversity and Inclusion – Internally and Externally; Breaking Barriers for Women and Girls;  Athlete, Influencer and Employee Advocacy; Social Impact and Sustainability.