Great leaders at the top of their game have the audacity to continue to believe in themselves, to continue to work harder and keep trying, even when faced with failure. It’s a superpower that helps them redefine themselves, their companies, their industries, and ultimately be successful.&nbsp;&nbsp;Today, we sit down with one of those audacious leaders. Sarah Mensah is the first female president of Jordan Brand, which revolutionized sports marketing in 1984 when Nike partnered with Michael Jordan to create the first Air Jordan basketball shoe. Sarah has broken barriers throughout her career at the Portland Trailblazers, Nike, and now Jordan Brand. We’ll talk with Sarah about the power to be unabashedly yourself, harness humility and courage, and use your voice in the right way to be a trailblazer in your career. We’ll explore how Jordan Brand is committed to improving the lives of Black people and inspiring communities across the world to ensure racial equality, social justice and greater access to education. And she’ll share how risk-taking, innovation, and values-based decision-making are core parts of the DNA driving Jordan Brand’s global growth.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ll also hear from <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/people/consultant-directory/hetty-pye" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hetty Pye</a>, a Managing Director in our London office, who will discuss <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/reports-surveys/why-is-the-leadership-gender-gap-still-so-large" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the gender imbalance in today’s C-suites and the steps organizations can take to close the gap.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;If you’d like to read more about Sarah Mensah and how women are rewriting the rules for success to close the gender gap at the top of organizations today, pick up a copy of <a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/microsite/to-the-top-book" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">To The Top</a> by Russell Reynolds Associates Managing Director Jenna Fisher.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:&nbsp;<ul><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/sunscreen-and-success-supergoops-winning-formula-with-ceo-amanda-baldwin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sunscreen and Success: Supergoop!'s Winning Formula with CEO Amanda Baldwin</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/opening-hearts-and-minds-on-late-night-news" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Opening Hearts and Minds on Late Night News with MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/insights/podcasts/from-server-to-coo-kat-cole-journey-to-the-top" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">From Server to COO: Kat Cole’s Journey to the Top</a>&nbsp;</li></ul>

Great leaders at the top of their game have the audacity to continue to believe in themselves, to continue to work harder and keep trying, even when faced with failure. It’s a superpower that helps them redefine themselves, their companies, their industries, and ultimately be successful.  Today, we sit down with one of those audacious leaders. Sarah Mensah is the first female president of Jordan Brand, which revolutionized sports marketing in 1984 when Nike partnered with Michael Jordan to create the first Air Jordan basketball shoe. Sarah has broken barriers throughout her career at the Portland Trailblazers, Nike, and now Jordan Brand. We’ll talk with Sarah about the power to be unabashedly yourself, harness humility and courage, and use your voice in the right way to be a trailblazer in your career. We’ll explore how Jordan Brand is committed to improving the lives of Black people and inspiring communities across the world to ensure racial equality, social justice and greater access to education. And she’ll share how risk-taking, innovation, and values-based decision-making are core parts of the DNA driving Jordan Brand’s global growth.  


Outwork the Competition: Jordan Brand’s Winning Strategy with President Sarah Mensah

Redefiners

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Call them changemakers. Call them rule breakers. We call them Redefiners. And in this provocative podcast, we explore how daring leaders from across industries and around the globe are redefining their organizations—and themselves—to create extraordinary impact in today’s rapidly changing world.In each episode, Russell Reynolds Associates Leadership Advisor Hoda Tahoun and former CEO Clarke Murphy host engaging, purposeful conversations with leaders in and out of the business world who share their insights and perspectives on how they lead, boldly. You’ll come away with fresh ideas and tangible takeaways on how you can redefine your own leadership trajectory – no matter where you are on your journey.&nbsp; &nbsp; Our Hosts:Clarke Murphy&nbsp; Clarke Murphy is the former Chief Executive Officer of Russell Reynolds Associates and serves on the Board of Directors. Prior to his appointment as CEO, he was the Global Leader of the firm's CEO/Board Services Practice.​ While at Russell Reynolds Associate​s, Clarke has conducted a number of significant projects in the industry, including Fortune 100 board searches and CEO successions. In addition, he has led notable searches in​​ the private equity industry including searches ​for the Carlyle Group and Warburg Pincus. Hoda TahounAs a leadership advisor and leader of the global Leisure &amp; Hospitality Practice at RRA, Hoda Tahoun identifies, assesses, and develops dynamic C-suite leaders for global hospitality, travel, and leisure companies. Based in Miami, Hoda helps clients solve their most pressing leadership issues at the CEO, C-suite, and other executive-levels. She also advises clients on customer-centric, go-to-market leadership roles such as chief marketing officers and chief experience officers. Hoda is committed to reshaping the hospitality and leisure landscape to ensure it is an industry that leads with purpose, value, and wellbeing and continues to attract and retain talent across all facets of diversity. Hoda spent more than seven years working for a boutique executive search firm, rising to the title of principal where she worked closely with hotel management companies, cruise lines and private equity firms. Previously, Hoda was an assistant vice president at SHUAA Capital in Dubai where she led the firm’s investment banking efforts. She has also worked at American Express, Bank of America and Citi.