I Was a Nike Intern While Still Training As a Student-Athlete, Here’s What I Learned
Kailynn Jackson
I’ve been an athlete* my entire life, but the idea that I could stay in sports outside of participating seemed like a dream. This summer, though, I saw the possibilities when I landed an internship with Nike.
Out of more than 70,800 applicants, just over 200 were selected to be part of the 2024 intern class representing the Nike, Jordan, and Converse brands. We’d spend ten weeks working on projects, participating in workshops, networking with employees, meeting with leaders, and attending events throughout the summer. I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and needed to make the most of it.
Day One felt like the first day of school. I had every anxious thought imaginable. Does my outfit look okay? Will I make a good first impression? What will they think of me? How will I balance my job with my off-season track and field training? What is it like working a corporate job? Who will I be working with? What will I be working on? Am I truly prepared for this?
While so many questions and unknowns ran through my mind, I had to remind myself that I was selected for a reason. So, I made the conscious decision to focus on three things: working hard, being myself, and trying new things—the rest would take care of itself.
From the moment I stepped foot on Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. as a Communications intern, my calendar was booked with meetings, my inbox was filled with emails, and my to-do list was crowded with deadlines.
As a student, I was used to being around peers of the same age and experience level as me, so it was a little intimidating to be in a corporate environment working with people of different lived experiences, expertise, and age groups. I wanted to prove to myself and my team that I could not only survive but thrive in the workplace so I decided to dive right in. I took the initiative by requesting to join meetings, offering to draft content, asking questions of my manager, and scheduling one-on-one meetings with senior leaders. This allowed me to connect with people, understand their work, and gain hands-on experience.
Outside of the internship, I also had to prioritize being a collegiate student-athlete. Most days, that meant starting my eight-hour workday with an early-morning run and ending with an evening lift. What made it easier was having the best resources, top-tier gyms and facilities, and a fantastic community at my fingertips. Honestly, at times, I was tired and a little overwhelmed, but I knew my hard work would pay off. My team believed in my abilities and potential, and when they saw my results, they gave me opportunities to pursue more.
The first incredible opportunity was interviewing Nike’s EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer Monique Matheson at Intern Opening Day in front of hundreds of interns and Nike employees. I didn’t know what would come next, but this ended up being one of many unforgettable moments.
Whether it was running a 5k with Colin Kaepernick, playing flag football with NFL players, or watching world records be broken at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, I felt like I was living in a sports paradise.
As an athlete, I know I always need to be prepared to show up at my best, and my internship experience opened my eyes to how critical that is in the corporate world as well. I learned how important it is to be self-aware, know my audience, and present myself and my ideas professionally because every interaction was a chance to learn, share my authentic self, build my brand, and grow my network.
One moment where that came to life was meeting Howard “H” White, the “godfather” and VP of Jordan Brand Affairs, famous for recruiting basketball legend Michael Jordan to Nike in 1984.
He approached me in a cafeteria during breakfast by asking one simple question: “If there are two things people should know about you, what would they be? Without hesitation, I said, “I love people and prioritize my faith.”
Having such an authentic and vulnerable conversation with him sparked my mentorship with one of the most influential leaders at Nike. It also validated my confidence in showing up every day as I am and building meaningful relationships throughout the summer.
Arguably, the closest relationships I made were with the people I met that first day. Two fellow student-athletes in particular – one from the University of Oklahoma and another from Clemson University – have become two of my best friends within the short time we’ve spent together.
There were so many interns I met this summer who shaped my experience. Whether we ran together in the mornings, met up for massive group lunches, or stayed up late watching Love Island, we were in it together. With TikTok as our tour guide, we traveled all over Oregon, exploring and eating our way from as far north as Portland, south as Eugene, east as Mt. Hood, and west as Cannon Beach.
If you had told me half of what I would do this summer, I wouldn’t believe it. My internship experience was far from making coffee and filing papers; it was an opportunity to develop as a professional and grow as a person.
I’ve had so many people ask me what my advice would be, and it’s simple: Just do it. Submit the application. Accept the offer. Take the risk. As Nike legend Deion Sanders (a.k.a. Coach Prime) would say: dreams don’t happen overnight–so wake up and make yours real. Take it from me because mine are now.
*Kailynn Jackson is a junior and Track & Field runner at the University of Oklahoma, where she is studying journalism.
Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
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