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REAR VIEW MIRROR (RECENT EPISODES)

The Value of Vision and Humanity on Innovative Design

“I’m looking for the opportunities that actually were authentic and did bring newness and tried to mitigate or eliminate all of those barriers.”

In this first episode of the Agents of Innovation podcast, host David Knies reconnects with long time friend and former adidas colleague, Charles Johnson. During his 30+ year career, he has been a footwear designer and visionary creator with adidas, Hyde, Crocs, and, until very recently, the global head of innovation at Puma in Germany.

Charles’ legacy is more than just designing highly commercial products for great brands, but the empathy that design can inspire. With the global pandemic and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, Charles is even more motivated to lead a new movement in what he terms “Humanistic Design” – using the power of Design to promote humanity in people, and improve the world we all live in.

The Work Required to Build
a Brand Through Storytelling

“Essential workers are the folks that Carhartt looks up to and really through our mission worked hard to serve and protect. For 131 years and they’ve had to continue to work, they’ve had to continue to find a way.”

Guest host Dave Larson speaks with his good friend and former Nike colleague Tony Ambroza. Tony is now the Chief Brand Officer at Carhartt, previously having worked for Under Armour. The guys discuss Carhartt’s ethos for hard work and the importance of storytelling. They also reference many of the shared experiences they had a Nike.

Tony was candid about how Carhartt had to scrap most of their plans for 2020 but emphasized how its values have guided the team during the pandemic and accompanying social unrest.

HEADLINES ON OUR MIND

A Love of Tennis that Helped Cement a Mayoral Legacy

The New York Times reports on the lifelong love former mayor David Dinkins had for tennis. Dinkins, who died Monday night at 93, listed the expansion of the National Tennis Center in Queens as one of his many accomplishments.

Photo by Sudan Ouyang on Unsplash

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