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We Out to Cafe 28! with Maiy
147 Plays5 days ago
This week I am joined by Maiy, we talk about her journey working at foot stores. How she found herself working in corporate Foot Locker. What she really went to school for. Growing up with immigrant parents and why they want to open up a store. Her transition to working at Hoka and their recent success. Finding culture and embracing culture, plus much much more.
Follow Maiy:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/maiyyymaiyy
Podcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/myfirstkicks
Sign up for the Patreon: https://patreon.com/MyFirstKicks
Music by The DoppleGangaz: https://thedoppelgangaz.bandcamp.com/
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Chapters:
00:00 Sneaker Culture
03:29 Intriguing Story
07:20 Entered the Game
10:49 Art of the Hunt
16:13 Parents Reaction
19:41 Immigrant Children
23:04 Stubborn Personalities
27:13 Breaking Barriers
32:28 Corporate Trajectory
35:46 Buyer Workload
39:55 Sneaker Shift
43:39 Layering Artistry
47:11 Culture Gatekeeping
51:01 Sneaker Culture
56:08 Marketing Team
59:37 Upcoming Hoka Pair
e01:03:38 Build This Out More
Recommended
Transcript
Nostalgia and Sneaker Culture
00:00:00
Speaker
But now it's like if somebody tells you like, oh, I can't find I'm just Google image search and um I got I got like pretty much. Yeah, I think like I miss that. I miss like the art of like the hunt. I feel like that's what made like sneaker culture kind of like exclusive in a way. Like you kind of only knew where to get it and whether you wanted to share it or not, like that was up to you. But i kind of miss that. Like I miss like.
00:00:24
Speaker
not knowing where to find something and like doing my due diligence to try to find it. But I also like that we're like that it's becoming more inclusive, that you can find more things now. Yeah. So it's like two folds for me. I do miss the gatekeeping. Yeah. like i I think it's good. On record.
00:00:41
Speaker
i may This is gatekeeping.
00:00:48
Speaker
What's good, everyone? Welcome back to My First Kicks. This is episode 228, and this week I bring to you another special guest. Welcome to the podcast, Mae. Thank you. Thanks for having me. No, first, I got to say thank you for sending me these. Oh, you're welcome. No, I know. Those were those were those are good. Yeah. Yeah, those good. Hard to get, but good. Yeah. I really appreciate you. I sent you the video, right? Of me being like, oh my God, I can't believe you sent me these. I did not post it. I will not post it because I was too flabbergasted and I sound absolutely crazy in it. oh I'm just glad I was to send you one. I really appreciate it. Yeah. Second, because I said this, do not hit her up.
00:01:30
Speaker
All right. Please don't. Please don't. ah Because I don't know, I'm always weird about that, like tagging somebody yeah when somebody sends me something. yeah or And I don't know if anybody, I feel like a lot of, I've always seen it, thank you, blah, blah, blah. And i'm I'm always weird about it because i'm I don't want to be the person, the reason why you're you're getting your DMs flooded by like, can you please send me these? I saw these are coming out next week, can get these too? No, I appreciate that.
00:01:56
Speaker
I do. So thank you. Thanks for not tagging me. But I do appreciate the shout out either way. Because you did tag me a little bit. Yeah, yeah. You put me in there. I appreciate you coming on. But for people who are not familiar
Mae's Sneaker Industry Journey
00:02:08
Speaker
with you, about you? Introduce yourself.
00:02:09
Speaker
Sure. um i may. um i have been working in the sneaker industry now for like 15 years and counting.
00:02:20
Speaker
um i would say i never knew anything about sneakers. My very first job was Foot Locker. And that's really what started it all. Yeah. And I think... once I learned more about like sneakers and just this whole culture, i was really locked in. Like I was like, this is something I definitely want to do long term. So yeah.
00:02:40
Speaker
yeah Nah, that's mad love. and I know, we so we met at Extra Butter. That was the first time we met and I was i was like, oh, I love the Dub Taps. Like I'm such a big Dub Taps fan. And then that was like the conversation. I was like, I don't know how to say it. Is it Dub Taps or Dub Taps? Like, um but then yeah, we ended up following each other and you hit me up to to pull up to the podcast. I was super honored because like,
00:03:00
Speaker
Yeah, you've been in this for a hot minute. A little while. I saw you as well in at the Minted, yeah right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. That too? we But I was coming in, and I think you were almost about to bounce. Probably leaving? Yeah. That makes sense. Yeah, because I came in late, and then Jason was there, and I was like, what's up, Jason? And I was hanging out with him, JTips, and...
00:03:22
Speaker
ah Who's the owner of Minted? The brother? don't know. I don't know their names. But I definitely talked to him for a little bit. And I was so intrigued by their story. Their story is very interesting. like start Like, you never know when there's like... This is what I was telling my friend yesterday because I had a conversation with him because he feels like he doesn't know... ah Like, he helps people a lot.
00:03:47
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. But he doesn't know where his passion is. Okay. And so i was telling him, like, you kind of got to treat it like your you're trying to find the the ball of yarn that you're trying to pull your thread from. Yeah. Because once you start pulling on the thread, you'll see like, oh this links to this and this links to that.
00:04:06
Speaker
um You know, everybody has a different journey and you don't know. Where it can go but you do have to try to find like yeah Which one which piece of yarn you're gonna pull? Yeah, you know I think also like whatever you find yourself like get being pulled to the most like what like drives that passion yeah, I think that also is like kind of like a link to Probably what you want to do and what like you put passion towards mm-hmm Yeah, that's, but it's ah it's like telling people to pursue things. I know. it's yeah Like it's easy because it's not. like So yeah, I know. there's There's definitely a moment. I'm pretty sure i was working at GameStop telling somebody like, yeah, you should totally do that.
00:04:45
Speaker
And I'm over here miserable. like I do the same thing all the time. like Yeah, follow your dream, please. I believe in you. And it's like, it's not that easy. Yeah. Right. So I totally get it.
00:04:56
Speaker
ah But you're here to answer the question I ask everybody each week. And
The Quest for Shadow 1 Sneakers
00:04:59
Speaker
that question is, what's your first kick? So it's that first pair sneakers you absolutely needed to have. First pair that i absolutely needed to have.
00:05:08
Speaker
It was the shadow one. um So when I first started at Foot Locker, um getting Jordans was super hard, um especially in kid sizes.
00:05:19
Speaker
And I remember seeing like ah photo of Kanye like in Paris yeah wearing royal ones. And he was literally wearing this like all black outfit with like a blazer and like some skinny jeans.
00:05:32
Speaker
And that was the first time I've ever seen like kicks really like styled in a way where it was like, I guess it was street wear in that sense. And I didn't know that word at the time. yeah um And I was like, oh, my God, like I want those like I want ones. Like, how do I get a pair of ones?
00:05:48
Speaker
And it was so hard to get. um Like I said, the footlocker that I worked at did not get like kit sizes. where where Which footlocker did you work at? Monmouth Mall in New Jersey. So it was a small little store. I used to always rotate between like foot action, kids foot locker and foot locker. In that one mall? In that one mall, yeah. Like you worked in each one? Yeah, yeah. Because it was like one system. And if they needed help, yeah they would like be like,
00:06:15
Speaker
come help us. And I would always go, because I was like, yeah, I want the commission, the little commission. It was like 2% at the time. It was so bad. But um yeah, I was like, yeah, I'll work whatever. so yeah, it was like the year, I think the year was like 20, maybe like 13.
00:06:31
Speaker
And the Royals came out that year. And I think later the shadows were coming out. And I was like, I don't know how to get a pair. Like i in my head, I was just talking to everybody that I knew at the time, which was like the Foot Locker crew.
00:06:43
Speaker
And but like the day of the launch, um the stock guy, his name is Nakia, he came in and he had like a box in his hand and he gave me like my first pair ones and it was the shadows.
00:06:54
Speaker
And I was just like, wow. like I was flabbergasted. No, literally, like it was a core memory for That's mad love, though. I know. I actually, I kept that pair. That pair was so bad from like a leather standpoint. And like, it was so creased and like, it was so uncomfortable, but I kept it.
00:07:11
Speaker
I kept it all the way up until this year. I actually just let this year because they're not wearable. Yeah. But yeah, it was a shadow. That was like the one that was like, I like, okay, I entered, entered the game. this is the bug. This was your entry point? It was the one. It was a pair of ones and it happened to be the shadow. And then later on I was able to secure royals and brads and then yeah.
00:07:37
Speaker
but So like I know now you're saying that you I mean, you got the bug, but like what what was like the next step? Were you like, all right, now i need to find out what this is all about. Yeah. So what was that? What was that?
00:07:49
Speaker
It was it was Air Max. Yeah. So but like were you like, where do you hit up like forums or are you just talking to people around you? Oh, that. it was It was more social. like i was definite I wasn't on any forums, um but it was definitely a lot more social.
Learning the Ropes at Foot Locker
00:08:06
Speaker
I was definitely learning from all the people that kept coming into Full Locker at the time, because they were all sneakerheads. And I didn't know anything. I didn't know the word sneakerhead.
00:08:15
Speaker
People collected. like At that time, we were like doing launches at 12 a.m. Yeah, missed those days. I missed those days. Midnight drops, man. Oh, my God. Right? like That was crazy. Sleeping in the mall?
00:08:28
Speaker
Crazy, crazy work, seriously. Like who even told Foot Locker that they could do that? I just don't get it. But um i I was just, yeah, I think I was just like learning from everything.
00:08:40
Speaker
And i was always like looking up stuff on Nike and just like, I think reading a lot. um And I think that's kind of how I just like learn more and more about it. I was just like watching and like just taking all the info in and really like, yeah, just watching. well So like were people like I mean look I'm not gonna make this like a gender thing but like were people accepting of you very easily because you worked at Foot Locker or do you think it's like you know you're you're your curiosity won them over?
00:09:15
Speaker
i think I think it was both. I think like, I know like it's definitely male dominated, but I think a lot of the like the males that I had met and talked to, i think they were like, oh dope, like you like kicks.
00:09:29
Speaker
Like it was kind of like that. um So, but it was still like an exclusivity thing. Like it was like, do you can you really sit here? Or like, can you really like make your way into this?
00:09:41
Speaker
And um I think it was, i at the time I didn't really pay attention to it, but now as I'm like older and I'm realizing like what it was, I'm like, and like it's hard for for girls out here to be in like the sneaker world and be taken seriously. Yeah, so I mean I recently had a conversation about it, and would well,
00:10:03
Speaker
I was sitting in on a conversation about it. And i was, i don't know. I don't know. Everybody likes to throw the word gatekeeping around. Yeah. But I also feel like there's no real way to gatekeep. Like before, before you could gatekeep. Like if somebody came up to you and just like, yo, I like these. How'd you get these? yeah I'm not telling you, bro. And then it's impossible. Like you get now you now, you're just asking person after person after person. Like, yo, I heard, I saw somebody with these on. Yeah. until You took a a really bad picture on your your Razor phone, your like raisezor yeah you're like, I need to find these.
00:10:38
Speaker
And then, yeah. But now it's like, if somebody tells you like, oh, I can't find them, just Google image search and um i got I got like, large yeah. I think like, I miss that. I miss like the art of like the hunt. I feel like that's what made like sneaker culture kind of like exclusive in a way. Like you kind of only knew where to get it and whether you wanted to share it or not, like that was up to you. yeah.
00:11:01
Speaker
I kind of miss that. Like i miss like not knowing where to find something and like doing my due diligence to try to find it. But I also like that we're like that it's becoming more inclusive, that you can find more things now. Yeah. So it's like twofolds for me. I do miss the gatekeeping. Yeah.
00:11:18
Speaker
like i I think it's good. On record. i made This is gatekeeping. like you know like it's It's nice sometimes to be the only one that has something. But you know at the same time, like yeah, everybody you know get a pair of what i ah what anybody has, I guess. like And I think StockX, or Stocks, however people say it.
00:11:39
Speaker
StockX? I've never heard anybody call it Stocks. i I don't know what it is. It's stock eggs. Is it? Okay. All right. Like, I don't know. I think I was actually at Foot Locker when somebody called it stocks. Yeah. And yeah, I don't. I've been unsure ever since, honestly.
00:11:57
Speaker
But yeah, i think. We could add that to the My First Kicks lore. You can. You can ask. Yeah. Like stocks. Stocks or stock eggs.
Globalization and Cultural Understanding of Sneakers in 2025
00:12:08
Speaker
Oh my God. make me look like a loser. No, no, you're good. The, the, but like, yeah, that, so now you're, you're slowly traversed, slowly traversing into, you know, air maxes and stuff like that.
00:12:20
Speaker
So like, I'm so curious about, yeah, finding sneaker culture because that's my thing right now. And this is something I was like on the ride here. i was just like, yeah, this year year I'm really focusing on culture.
00:12:34
Speaker
You know, my previous guest, he's traveled the world and we talked about the different cultures. I mean, you've traveled. a lot you know i always comment on your stories like i i wish i would go there um but my biggest thing is that i feel like in 2025 people don't understand what culture is and they definitely a hundred thousand percent do not understand what sneaker culture is yeah so like tell me about the early days of like you know but the air max days and what like we're partaking in finding about sneaker culture
00:13:05
Speaker
I hope you've been enjoying this episode with May. And if you really have been enjoying it, please hit that subscribe button. The like button will definitely go like a really long way.
00:13:16
Speaker
And leave a comment, especially as you're watching this episode. Also, if you want to tap in and help out the podcast in a huge, huge way, subscribe to the Patreon.
00:13:27
Speaker
The links in description are right here. And we have two tiers. We've got a $3 tier and a $5 tier. Both tiers. You will get a shout out at the end of this episode. So stick around if you already became a patron. I'm working to make sure we're making it a lot more robust at the $5 tier. So hit that Patreon.
00:13:48
Speaker
Hit up the Patreon, actually. Not hit that Patreon. Hit up the Patreon. And I'll see you on Patreon. I didn't know it was called sneaker culture then. That was the thing. You were just in it. Yeah. And then I think what what started happening, they started doing the trade shows. like All like the- pimps. Yes. And what was what's the really big one where you like go, like you trade like you literally trade- Dunk exchange? No. Well, yeah, there was dunk exchange. But was it? I mean, the OG sneaker con. Yes. That's yeah yes. Sneaker con.
00:14:16
Speaker
um about The one at Basketball City or Philly. I think there was a Philly one. bad. I'm New York centric. OK, OK. I'm from Jersey, so we we we can go both ways, but mostly New York, New York.
00:14:28
Speaker
um But think like at the time, i don't think I really like knew what like the culture was, but I think it was just knowing, like it was like the excitement of like the next drop yeah and like being a part of the conversation with peers yeah and just, again, like the art of the hunt.
00:14:47
Speaker
I think that was like one of the bigger things of sneaker culture for me at the time is that I couldn't, it wasn't easy for me to find what I was looking for and it was hard and it was frustrating. But i worked at Foot Locker, so it was kind of easy for me at top as well.
00:15:02
Speaker
um But it was really interesting, like just learning about like people and like the people that I was working with to like the stock guy that I was mentioning, like he had over like 100 pairs of shoes at the time. It was way more than 100 as well. But like I was like, what you're collecting? collecting Like, what is that? how What is collecting? what does that even mean?
00:15:21
Speaker
um So I think it was a lot of that. And that's I think that's how I learned about it is like trying to find something and then it's like, what does it mean? And like, what what is it to this world? And then like later on, like a few years later, I learned, okay, like it this is a culture, like this is ah a huge movement of people yeah that like all have this thing in common. And I think that's when I went to like my first sneaker con and I was like, whoa, yeah this is crazy. And it's that I'm pretty sure was packed in there too. Yeah. because this is when it was thriving. Yeah. Like a hundred percent. And people were actually like, they had like their used pairs. And was like, Whoa, people are like trading used pairs. Like that's crazy to me too.
00:16:01
Speaker
But it was, it was very interesting. And then I learned about eBay and like people buying off eBay and like buying like worn shoes off eBay, but because they were grails, they were.
00:16:11
Speaker
It was very interesting. Now I got to know, how'd you, how'd you explain this to your parents?
Cultural Perceptions of Sneaker Value
00:16:18
Speaker
Oh my God, that's such a funny question.
00:16:22
Speaker
My parents were like, you're using all your money on shoes and you're going to regret it later. Like literally like, I know, but every Friday was a launch. yeah Right.
00:16:33
Speaker
And I think we got paid like at Foot Locker at the time. i think it was like every two weeks. Um, and I would come home with a pair of shoes and they would just be like, you're like, you're not even wearing them. And I'd be like, yes, I am. I'm like, don't worry, I'm saving them.
00:16:44
Speaker
Saving them. yeah yeah um And my collection continued to grow. And they they kind of just like let it be whatever. They just didn't they didn't get it. They were just like, what are you doing with all these shoes? yeah um are were Are your parents ah immigrants? Yeah. like like yeah How do you explain that to them? You you don't. You kind of just do it. like there's no like There's no explaining. they they They don't get it. but i They definitely get it now. But now I'm actually like,
00:17:12
Speaker
Selling a lot of my shoes and like getting rid of a lot. um So they're kind of like, oh my god, like finally And they're always like asking me like, you know, is there anything that you want to give away and I'm like, yeah, of course um But yeah at the time it was they had they didn't get it and also like they came from Egypt and and like very minimalistic people like the like the day-to-day like they just needed what they needed to survive so to me so for me like buying shoes and like them seeing like I'm spending money on clothes and Fashion and all these things they're like You're just throwing your money away right now.
00:17:52
Speaker
You're just throwing your money away right now So it was it was definitely like when I was when I was growing up it was I mean they weren't wrong, but it was also like I Like it's my money It's also like, how can you, because like, yeah, both my parents are immigrants, um but like my mom's Brazilian. My dad's Bengali. Okay. Just for some clarity here. Okay. But ah like explaining this because of my dad left when I was younger. So like explaining it to my mom. Yeah.
00:18:20
Speaker
She was like, are you going to open up a store? Right. yeah Every single pair. Like I was only at like five pairs. Now? Now? yeah She's like, like i' ah I'm like, I think i'm at like 200. She's like, you gotta sell. You gotta sell all this stuff. My dad too. My dad asks me all the time, do you want to open up a store? Can we open up a store? Can we open up a store? And I'm like,
00:18:40
Speaker
no like but like I get it I get why he asks but I think he talks about it in like a general sense of like opening up like retail yeah in general because he's an immigrant and like you know he wants to open up any business he can um but yeah yeah do you get to go back like to Egypt I've been back the last time I was back was 2019 been a while I'm dying to go back literally die I've never been but that's just gotta you should go I'm trying to go everywhere well have you been to Brazil? I've been to Brazil twice but the last time I'm trying to go next year which will be crazy because apparently I'm gonna try to do podcasts out there too with Brazilian people out there wait that's dope that's the whole plan and so like
00:19:29
Speaker
But I've been there and it was i high school. um Bad terms of like my aunt passing away. and sorry Yeah. But like I haven't been there since. Okay. got Yeah. I have to go.
00:19:40
Speaker
I've gotten my whole family's mad at me. that But it's just like I don't know if this is and this is something I feel like only immigrant children know where it's like you.
Balancing Immigrant Challenges and Dreams
00:19:54
Speaker
How do I explain this? You work and it's like, oh, you need to be at work or if you're you're not like you, the idea of taking a vacation. i know It's like foreign for the for the the child of an immigrant. Cause it's like, I feel like my mom has always drilled into me. You gotta to be there. You gotta do it. You gotta do that.
00:20:13
Speaker
And then, you know, we're buying sneakers. We're buying clothes. We don't have money to be like, all right, I got $600 to take a flight. You know, like, and then you, cause you're not, you're not going to get paid. yeah That week you're out of there. Nope.
00:20:25
Speaker
So it's like, how do you make this work? And then I don't know if you did family vacations like when you were younger and it Just to Egypt. Yeah. Yeah. mean, but that counts, though. Yeah. yeah Like, that's because it's expensive. Like, when my mom, when I looked up flights, I was like, how did my mom pay pick for $2,000? Like, to go both ways. yeah and then And then it's like, okay, like, you're thinking like, okay, you're you're not staying in a hotel. You're staying with family. That at least cuts it down. Yeah. You know? That's true. But then you're like, we have to pack three suitcases of stuff. We do. We do. for gifts. Oh my God. You cannot go there without gifts. You can't.
00:21:07
Speaker
So it's just like, I don't know how, i don't I've always, it boggles my mind how she did it of just like, cause she worked in a hospital for 30, yeah, and by herself. And we had a house. We lived in a house. Like, I'm like, what?
00:21:18
Speaker
How do you, for real? yeah I don't even think I could do that. Like, but you know, and I, you know, on a salary that I have, yeah like, I don't know how they've done it. They are like, yeah, I, they fascinate me truly. Like my dad, my mom, like,
00:21:31
Speaker
They do fast. it Like they say immigrants are like hard workers for a reason. Like they just, they grind. yeah It's crazy. Cause I'm curious, like what did you what do your parents do?
00:21:42
Speaker
So in Egypt they were lawyers, but when when they came here, my dad was like very into this whole like American dream of like opening up his own business. So when we first came, um he was doing a little bit of like, and a little bit of everything. um And then he finally opened up a restaurant. um So he's had that for a while.
00:22:02
Speaker
And then my mom just- Shout out the restaurant, we gotta get people Oh my God, Cafe 28. Pull up, pull up beef. In Ocean, New Jersey, please go. It's Middle Eastern food, it's so good. um And then my mom, she just did like a regular day job. um But yeah, my dad never stopped working, like literally seven days a week.
00:22:20
Speaker
Like no no days off. I was lucky for him to come to like graduation and stuff. Did he pull up at least? Yes, he did. Thank God. Right. Because that would have been like. i know. I know.
00:22:33
Speaker
But then it's also like they're they're previously lawyers. So then it's like the debates in the house like crazy. Oh, for sure. Especially with my dad. but but My mom says that me my dad are so similar. Yeah. We're both so stubborn.
00:22:46
Speaker
But yeah, I feel like. debates. stubbornness i don't know if it's inherit or it was just like the idea of proving somebody wrong and you like you want to like you own that yeah of like I don't know i don't think it's inherit yeah it's definitely a learned trait yeah yeah I think so yeah yeah I'm stubborn as hell are you yeah yeah yeah I think I'm stubborn to an extent don't think I'm that stubborn I mean, I think, see, I learned, I was stubborn.
00:23:15
Speaker
was definitely stubborn when I was younger. Like, very, very stubborn. Like, I'm going to it. I'm going to do it my way. Oh, yeah, yeah. Okay, okay, okay. But when it comes now, like, I'm okay being wrong. Yeah. But that's definitely, like, something I had to learn. Okay. Because that for a hot minute, I was like,
00:23:29
Speaker
Nah, you don't know the fuck you talk about. Like, yeah. Okay, true, true. Yeah, I get that. do So like, you know, is that where your your hustle comes from? Because, you know, 15 years in sneakers is not easy.
00:23:43
Speaker
um Yeah, it comes from my mom, yeah I think. And obviously my dad, but mostly my mom. She ah like instilled and ingrained in my brain that, you know, I just need to be like a hard worker and I need to like,
00:23:56
Speaker
you know find my way and like don't lean on anybody and just be independent. And because of her now, I'm independent. But um yeah, she was really like, she definitely like pushed me.
00:24:10
Speaker
um i got my first ever job when I was like 15. So it was like, that's all I did was work. That's what I'm saying. It's crazy. Literally, like, and then you have your family back home that don't, like, they work, but they they're having a great time. yeah Like, when I went to Egypt for the first time after, like, years of me, like, when I moved to America, like, they were just so happy. yeah Like, they were happy genuinely happy people.
00:24:39
Speaker
And I'm like, wow. Like... People are happy here. Like this is crazy. Like I thought I was happy, but no, like that was a different type of happy. Like I was, I was joyful, yeah you know?
00:24:52
Speaker
um But yeah, it was my mom for sure. And my dad too, like they helped me a lot, but mostly like my mom, she was like, you gotta be independent. You gotta find your way. You gotta get a job. but You gotta get a job after college. yeah You gotta go to college. yeah um Did you go to, did you go to school specifically for like footwear?
00:25:09
Speaker
No, um I wanted to be in fashion yeah ultimately. um So sneakers was kind of like at the time what I was doing. I didn't think sneakers was fashion.
00:25:20
Speaker
But then as I like grew and like learned more about like all the industries in a way, was like, no, like sneakers is fashion. so I think that's kind of like what led me to like being like, I want to make this a career. yeah um But no, I studied journalism. Oh, okay.
00:25:38
Speaker
You should be interviewing me. I know, probably can. I'm pretty good. I'm pretty good at asking questions. Hopefully I'm doing well. No, you're good, you're good, you're good. I haven't even thought about that in years, so yeah, you're good.
00:25:51
Speaker
but So because of that, like how did you translate that into, you know, footwear because like you're i mean i'm assuming yeah not to assume because it makes an ass out of you but like i'm assuming like footlocker was just the start uh and then you went to school you paid your page away so then how did like how do you translate in ah a degree for journalism yeah and then you're like i'm still gonna be yeah sneakers Very interesting.
00:26:20
Speaker
i i can say when you put it like that. i So I was working at Foot Locker. um i went to college and I kept my job at Foot Locker. I was an assistant manager before. i went into college and then I like kept my part time. And then I wanted to like...
00:26:34
Speaker
i I had always met people that worked in the office at Foot Locker when I was working in the stores. I didn't know how they got there. and I didn't know like what types of careers were up there. So it was like always in the back of my head like, oh, maybe I could end up at Foot Locker Corporate. like Maybe like that could be a thing for me if journalism doesn't work or if fashion doesn't work, whatever. um And at the time, I like got a couple internships while I was in school. And I realized that like I actually didn't really like the fashion world in a
Fashion Journalism and Marketing Aspirations
00:27:03
Speaker
way. I think it was a very, that, like, that world was, is very exclusive, very, like,
00:27:11
Speaker
Yeah, it was hard. i I know, like, because like I was very big into fashion to a certain point. And then I think I always credit Virgil for breaking it, breaking down yeah the barriers that were because I've always heard.
00:27:24
Speaker
I mean, i used to hang around ah like FIT and stuff. And people would just look at you like or like when you would go to school, everybody's like judgy. Yeah, um I wanted to go to FIT. I wanted to go to school for fashion. And they like my parents were like, no, you're going to Rutgers.
00:27:37
Speaker
Like you're going to Rutgers with all the other Arabs like that's where you're going. That's it. um But and then that's why I chose journalism because I was like, okay, well, if you're not gonna let me choose study fashion, then I'll you know, I'm gonna write. Yeah, exactly. About it. But yeah, like it was I got a couple internships. I interviewed at like a couple magazines and I was just like, I don't like this at all. Like they're just And at the time also, like I was wearing like the hijab, so I also looked very different than everybody. And it was very hard to kind of like break into like that industry. that like Looking totally different than everybody and not knowing anybody, not having any connect.
00:28:13
Speaker
So that was it was very hard. um But yeah, so then I was like, okay, like you know I got a job after college out of agency, but I still kept my footlocker job. And I was like, I really wanna work in the office. And that's when I started learning more about the the opportunities in the office.
00:28:27
Speaker
And one day, like um one of the girls that I think she's she still works at Fullocker. um She handed my resume to the recruiter and there was a job opening and I interviewed and um yeah, I got the job and I got into corporate. That journalism worked. It did. that public speaking. Listen, we got somewhere. Right. Right.
00:28:49
Speaker
i do I do feel like you know talking your way into the door is so hard to do It is. It's networking. Yeah. And the network is like people know so many people now.
00:29:03
Speaker
But the way that you, I think, present yourself or the way that you network, I think is it makes or breaks a potential opportunity. Yeah. like whether you're authentic about it or you're just using somebody, like people could tell. oh yeah, instantly.
00:29:19
Speaker
The art of the elevator pitch. Like I remember I learned it like good do super early in my career because I was trying to get into into corporate America as fast as I could. right right And so like the the way of like, okay, you're in front of it.
00:29:37
Speaker
I mean, I don't know if I think I feel like I told this on here, but like I got I used to work for Dylan's Candy Bar. I mean, Dylan, Dylan Lauren. OK. And so she brought me in front of Ralph Lauren. OK. Because that's her dad. Yeah. And like we had this conversation, but I was kind of like.
00:29:52
Speaker
damn, if I had the skills to like, where he would find interest in me within like a fast, like yeah five minute conversation, my life would have been totally different than what it is now. And so like, I like, like would work on that, work on it. And then like in college,
00:30:09
Speaker
I learned that like you know the public speaking way of just being like, okay, you gotta be concise and this and that. and like But it does take skills and I don't know if we're, I feel like lot of the people 2025 are coming not knowing to that.
00:30:22
Speaker
out of not knowing yeah how to do that because realize can you help me? like, you gotta help yourself. Yeah, definitely. i think it even works, like even when you like when you're interviewing like and the recruiter is like, tell me about yourself. yeah Like that's your elevator pitch yeah essentially. so it's like, what are you gonna say in those first few sentences that isn't like, that is gonna grab the person and like really be able to tell your story in like just those three sentences? It's big.
00:30:51
Speaker
So, yeah, so I definitely I never mastered that yeah at the time. But like now I've definitely like pretty much like figured it out. But when you're younger, it's definitely harder for you to like figure out what it is that you need and want to say in that moment. Because it's that moment because you're shaking. Yeah. You're like, oh, my God, like, what do I say to this person? And you're just like blabbing and like.
00:31:11
Speaker
nothing's coming out um yeah it's funny because like now we live in this world where i feel like everybody's pitching themselves to them to each other but they're not doing it yeah in a way where it's like it's like when i meet you when i met you i mean i'm pretty sure i gave you the like this is what i do this is the podcast and like yeah just i ask people what's that first pair yeah you sneakers as a through line like i'm like i got it down so pat and like but like if my job i'm just like yeah i'm You know, I work in creatives. I'm a project manager. Like, I i can, I've, like, figured out how to, like, massage yeah everything. Right. But, yeah, it's hard. Like, hearing these conversations now is just, like, it's hard to listen to. It is. I do think, though, like, the art of social media has definitely probably, like, I think,
00:31:54
Speaker
the generation now, I think they are way ahead of us in the sense of knowing what to kind of expect because of social media and just how you can get any type of information from internet at this point. You can prep yourself. Literally, you have JGBT do your elevator pitch.
00:32:12
Speaker
So it's like, it's very interesting. I know you got to practice. I know. got to get in front that mirror. Exactly. Right. You know, high pitch voice. You got to be careful when you're like scared. You're like, my name is. Literally like, got to be careful. um But yeah. So like, what was the trajectory after? So you you got into corporate. Yeah. And then.
00:32:33
Speaker
so i was at So I was at Foot Locker up until, um i was in corporate up until last year. Actually, yeah. I was there. were What roles we were you able to? The last role that I had was a buyer. So um I was, i entered as a replenishment analyst, which is kind of like a person that allocates whatever the buyers buy. Yeah. um I got really good at knowing markets in that role.
00:32:58
Speaker
um And I like really understood like just kind of like where things sell which is huge. yeah um Because like what sells in Atlanta or like what Atlanta people wear is not the same thing as what New York wears. yeah Same thing as like Texas. So like little did i know that that was like kind of like building me for like what I was going to do next.
00:33:17
Speaker
um And then I had initially wanted to go into marketing um and I went after that pretty hard. But then i kind of learned what a buyer was. was like, wait, I love product. Like,
00:33:28
Speaker
what like In the sense I wanted to do marketing, whereas like I wanted to i wanted to like create the story behind the shoes. yeah um Because I knew the shoes so well, and I knew like where they came from. yeah that I wanted to create that storytelling moment like as the as a marketer.
00:33:44
Speaker
But then I was like, wait, but I can actually like have the say as to like what shoe I'm going to bring in for Foot Locker. for like the consumer, was like, oh, that's dope. yeah um So I basically like was like, no, nevermind. Like I'm not gonna do marketing. I wanna do product. I wanna be a buyer.
00:34:02
Speaker
um And at the time there was um like, I had a mentor there and she really like guided me to figuring out how I can get into being a buyer. And I just worked so hard. Like I interviewed for every associate buyer role that there was, even though I was not even close to becoming an associate buyer, cause there was levels. yeah um I still interviewed for that for them. like I was so hungry. like I was like, I'm going to be a buyer. like yeah you're gonna You guys are going to make this happen regardless.
00:34:29
Speaker
So just no. um You're like, I'm persistent. It's happening. You're just delaying the inevitable. Why are and i yeah i got it i got I finally got a buyer. i got an associate buyer. So I worked in Kitts Foot Locker as an associate buyer. I was doing mostly Nike at the time.
00:34:52
Speaker
So it's by brand so specifically? Yeah. So at that time we were buying by brand. So when I got the job, I was basically under like Nike Jordan. So I was focused, like my responsibilities was but fully focused on Nike Jordan.
00:35:07
Speaker
And then there was another buyer for the other brands. But at the time, Nike Jordan was a huge piece of the business. yeah um And I was on kids. So that was money. Like that was just straight money.
00:35:18
Speaker
um So, yeah. So it was it was really cool. Like and i was very excited. It was Nike was where I wanted to end up. So like to work under Nike as like, you know, a buyer for it. And I got to like.
00:35:32
Speaker
see all the products that were coming in for the next seasons. And yeah, it was amazing. i mean i was like excited. Yeah. yeah And then. Getting to look into it be like, oh, this coming out. Literally. Like it was, it was, I was, I was so excited, but it was a lot of work. yeah It was so much work. Like, like being a buyer is not easy. And I give it up to like all the buyers out there, all the retail buyers, like,
00:35:59
Speaker
they have a lot of work to do. like they It's not an easy job. it's a it's It feels like it's a glamorous job because you work with all the brands and like you see all the seasons coming up and like you know you get all this like information and you're ahead of it. like You know what's coming. yeah But at the same time, it's a lot of numbers. It's a lot of long nights. So yeah, but I definitely loved it. I love being a buyer. I thought it was really awesome. Were you just like still copping heat and like wearing some crazy stuff into the office? For sure. Always. Like definitely. What is the sneaker culture within Foot Locker? It's...
00:36:34
Speaker
like what is the sneaker culture within well luck eight
00:36:41
Speaker
it's kind of like all over the place. There is, there's the, there's the people that have been in the industry for so long that still like believe in the collecting, like I'm not giving these up. I have, you know, I i got these Tiffany's at X, Y, and Z time and like all these things.
00:37:01
Speaker
And then there's like, there's the new schoolers, like the new crew that are kind of just buying whatever they like. And they don't really like they know it, but like they kind of just don't like, they've never had that history.
00:37:12
Speaker
um and then there's like, there's people who are interested in what's going on. So they kind of buy what they like and what they see, yeah but they don't really like know it like that. yeah So there's a lot of people that are, I would say the Foot Locker office though carries heat. yeah Like they, yeah.
00:37:29
Speaker
You walk in, you're like... Yeah, it's definitely heat. I would say the best time in sneakers at Foot Locker in the office was like... I would say it was like 2018. Yeah. Like that was like the best time of like just straight... Like people were just wearing straight heat. Yeah. And it wasn't all these running shoes everywhere. Yeah. Like, which is not a bad thing. No mesh runners. Yeah. Like it was like... Mesh runners are dope. But like it was just a time where it was like everybody was like wearing like, you know, grails. So... know. It's like... It's like my thing is just like...
00:38:00
Speaker
So I was the sneaker guy in corporate America and I'm still am now in my current job. Everybody's just like, oh, that's the, there was one time at this previous agency that I was working at, I got highlighted as like, oh, but this is, that this is the employee. Hi. This is the, who we're, we're highlighting in this week, this month as like the employee of whatever. Right.
00:38:21
Speaker
And then they wrote about this podcast and, cool and then ah like just my, my love for sneakers. Like it was about that. I'm walking through the office and something i just walk into like i just hear two people behind me and they go, yo, that's the sneaker guy.
00:38:39
Speaker
And I'm like. Love that for you. One, I was embarrassed because was wearing trash that day. Were you? It was raining. I was wearing some beaders. Probably some Air Force One, black black. Yeah.
00:38:51
Speaker
And i was just like, God damn. And then I was like, that's pretty cool. But it's it's the the whole like corporate America has changed because I remember was just like, You got to come in with your your rock ports or your, yeah, your Sebago or whatever.
00:39:06
Speaker
And and then now it's like, yeah, I just go to the office and whatever. so Literally, you i everybody wears sneakers now. It's not even a question. yeah It's crazy how much it's changed. Like, it really is. Corporate culture is insane. It's different. different It's different. It's cool, though. Yeah. the But yeah, I was just like, oh, man, it's got to be crazy. Like, you it's a comp it's got to be competition. Oh, for sure. Yeah.
00:39:28
Speaker
But like, oh, you rocking those today? Especially at Foot Locker. You have to. Yeah.
Evolving Sneaker Style and Modest Fashion
00:39:34
Speaker
No, for sure. I was always on that, like, I need to wear whatever think next thing. So like bng so like i I would wear a lot of like the launches and then once we finally got back into the office in 2021, 2022, my changed.
00:39:53
Speaker
like sneakers kind of shifted for me like the like the like what i wanted to wear definitely changed yeah And i was very much into more of like the if you know, you know things.
00:40:04
Speaker
And that's when I started wearing like other things that like mostly a lot of people in the office like weren't wearing or like didn't gravitate to yet. Whereas everybody else would still wear like Jordans and everything like that, which...
00:40:17
Speaker
Did people like stop you? Like you have like a story where you wore something and somebody was just like, all right, you're gonna have to come back here. Like come back to this desk real quick. I gotta see these. i Yeah, how it's happened like a few times. i can't like pinpoint the time, but I definitely, one time I wore actually like the J-Tips Saucony. And I don't think anybody knew like, well, everybody knew what Sockany was, but nobody was like really paying attention to them. The first one, the Gritazoros, those? Like, yeah, the super like bright ones. Yes, the very the very first ones. They're all very bright. I know. um And I think somebody was like, oh, like what? Like,
00:40:55
Speaker
not what are those, but like, what are those? um And- imagine they Imagine they hit you with the, what are those? But it's like- i It's serious. yeah yeah um Yeah, I think, yeah. And then like there was also a time where like,
00:41:10
Speaker
Not a time but like Ugg started doing like really really cool stuff. Yeah. um They had the ones with like the different like colors on the bottom of those with like the slip or whatever. Yeah like the Ugg Taz's and all that like that was all like kind of different. It wasn't really sneakers. It was like casual.
00:41:28
Speaker
um So that was interesting. But yeah there was definitely moments. I just can't like 100% Do you enjoy, because you said you like being ahead. Do you enjoy putting people on other sneakers?
00:41:42
Speaker
like Yeah. like is there Because I have that thing, right? my my But that's for me for music. like I love putting people on a new music. like But my thing has always been like, I'm nervous. in that But I don't know if I if i like that nervousness of like when you put somebody on something and you're just like,
00:42:01
Speaker
and Are they gonna like it? Are they gonna find it wack? I don't know i don't know what if like you find pressure in that. um No, I do. I like putting people onto stuff that I like. Whether they like it or not I think is like up to them. But I like i like sharing. I think that's like one of my favorite things. And I think that's why I like buying so much. is because like I got to kind of like share what I was thinking of like what I liked in terms of like what I thought the consumer would like.
00:42:28
Speaker
um So yeah, so I would I share all the time. yeah And then like there's then I'm always like, okay, like when I share something I'm like, okay, like you make sure like, you know, like I try to still find things that not everybody is was wearing. Yeah, at the same time.
00:42:42
Speaker
um But I still I still buy whatever. Yes, I look, everybody is this fire is fire. Yeah, no, and everything is everywhere. Yeah. So like, Yeah.
00:42:53
Speaker
But I think you have ever since I first met you and and like your style is you know, I think you you mesh, you know, what what you're able to wear. like, don't know how to put it politely. I'm sorry. I'm
00:43:13
Speaker
of sorry. yeah but but But your style is absolutely flawless. I think that like looking at your page, you always rock some crazy fits. I'm like, this is fire.
00:43:25
Speaker
yeah But you know how are you how are you able to navigate it? Because you talk about fashion fashion and being into fashion. This whole question made my brain hot. But but how do you are are you able to like maneuver and navigate?
00:43:40
Speaker
Yeah, that's a good question. Thank you for the compliment. i On the day-to-day, I'm usually just in black. I love black. But I think the art of layering. Yeah, I'm big layering. And it's like every time I've ever seen you, I'm like, that fit is crazy. Thank you.
00:43:59
Speaker
And then, I mean, if you go to her page... you are thank you stop thank you yeah I gotta to give praise what praise thank you you know so yeah it's it's like been hard I would say like because I want to dress modest um but yeah I still want to like put flair and like put emphasis on like certain pieces of like what I wear so I think for from like the time that I was first starting like In sneakers, I was definitely dressing way different than I am now, but I think my style comes from a lot of different inspirations.
00:44:35
Speaker
And i think now more than ever, I've started to dress a lot more like just baggier, bigger. um I'll find like, like I'll do feminine things here and there.
00:44:46
Speaker
But because of like, you know, wearing the hijab and like being who I am really is it's been like hard to find those pieces and then when I do I'm like I gotta wear them all the time because once I find a good piece I'm like I'm gonna wear all the time because it's like modest and it it goes with the kicks or it goes with whatever I'm wearing at the time and it just goes into my personal style so I know like now when I'm shopping I know exactly kind of what I'm looking for and what I want And layering is huge for me. Yeah, like layering for me is really big because um I can't wear like tight things all the time I can't wear like crop tops and that be my outfit with some big pants like it just I just can't do that. Yeah, so for me I have to find other ways to like put stuff like that together um and it's it's been easier mostly because It has gotten like modesty has like become like a thing yeah, um and people are wearing baggier clothes and like
00:45:41
Speaker
they make really good like men's fat like men's fashion is amazing like i love going into the men's section and like just browsing and like yeah like i love men's clothes the because like sorry this is like i've tried to like i want to ask this question because this is this is the lead up to this question where it's like you know there's always been a connotation on you know how i don't know what to well rab women oh you know like it's I feel like the stereotyping and all that shit that we always see and, yeah you know, and, you know, me also being as a brown person, like, you know, navigating that and and seeing what, like, what
00:46:26
Speaker
ARAB women have to go through yeah in terms of that. And it's like, it's really dope to see you like figure out a way to know be yourself, you know, and also be fly as hell hal because that's, that is also giving hope to, you know, and given given ideas for sure. Like, I hope so. Yeah. give him ah Like, because that is such how,
00:46:49
Speaker
Like unless you're like in Dubai, you know, like nobody's really sharing these kind of tips in America. Right. You know, every yeah when you when you are a ah brown person of color here, you know, there's like ways you have to navigate. You know, some people try to assimilate as fast as possible and, you know, try to like shed all their yeah the culture. And so like, yeah, you know, i just wanted to say that, like, you know, you are dope. And thing what you do is I appreciate it. yeah Thank you.
00:47:16
Speaker
I think also like when you talk about like our own cultures, it was funny because like we talked about gatekeeping a little bit and I feel like we, it like our culture is also ones to always gatekeep. So when I was like growing and like when I was like getting older and you know, trying to navigate my way, like nobody really like told me like or shared or met like helped me navigate yeah what I was like entering everybody kind of was just like oh I like I had to figure it out like you kind of got to figure it out yeah for me now like I mean I I would love to like help anybody or anything like you know because it's definitely hard out there yeah and um it's definitely hard for just like
00:47:58
Speaker
getting into yeah fashion. Yeah. You know, because like even when like Nike did the hijab, you know, it got like crazy weird. Like people were like, oh, I don't know if they should be doing that. or I know. like It got really kind ah confrontational. on what Con. What is con?
00:48:14
Speaker
Whatever. um Controversial. Controversial. Yeah. There we go. Yeah. Like I feel out like our world is definitely always up for like question marks and like if you If you see a girl wearing abeya, it's oh my god, like, yeah why is she wearing that? It's so hot out. Like, all those clothes, all those layers. So it's like, it's good to like, again, like the one thing about social media is like getting people like us out there and like, you know, hopefully people like see that there's inspiration of like that. It's, we're all doing it and like you can't do it. um Yeah, like there's a lot of dope like hijabis out there that are like killing it and like doing it with
00:48:54
Speaker
you know in fashion, doing it as influencers, doing it as like all these things, creators, like they're killing it and I love to see it. hell yeah And I always wanna put them on. i'm like you know I DM them all the time and I'm like, yo, send me your address, I'll send you shoes, I'll do whatever. like um go yeah like Literally, like i I feel it it was because it it wasn't easy like that. and like you know you just got to like I like to like give like whatever whatever i have received, like in a way like i feel like i
00:49:26
Speaker
i want and i need to like like give that back yeah in a way however that is yeah so I do think, especially when you're brown and into clothing, like there's, there isn't a lot of like representation in terms of just like, cause like if you go to like a panel or something like that, the same like five people are always yeah be on the panel.
Diversity in Fashion and Career Transitions
00:49:48
Speaker
There's always going to be a black, there's going to be mostly black people and then a couple of white people yeah or a Spanish person. And maybe not even a girl. Yeah.
00:49:54
Speaker
and Maybe not. yeah Just straight. Nothing but dudes, you know? Um, so like, it Whenever you see somebody that is kind of like you, and this is why i I'm saying this is because it's just like, you know, i recently had this conversation and it was just like, oh, yeah, there's ah now there's starting to be a lot more representation of of brown people and stuff like that.
00:50:15
Speaker
And like, it's cool. But I feel like. the paint the The point that Homie was making was like, oh, Delhi Boys got big, so now it's like, and now it's like now we're seeing a ton of people. Now like I'm like, nah, man, i i it's Bollywood has always been a thing. I know. like yeah Brown people have always been part of this and like previous guests, Ani Khan, we were talking about that of just like representation is just, we I do have to accept both sides of myself yeah um and be present for both sides yeah because I've been so absent from one yeah um since my dad left. So it's just like, it's just like trying to navigate it without
00:50:56
Speaker
like be curious about it because I've been not curious yeah about it for so long. yeah So because of that and then being doing this, yeah like, and get it in, you know, being and a name in sneakers and stuff like that. I'm like, yo, there's gotta be more of us out here into this. So, yeah, it's so, it's so awesome to me. Like more people like that are, you know, within our culture that are doing the same things as us. And I, I love, I love that. Like, I love meeting more people and like figure like,
00:51:23
Speaker
Yeah, just finding each other in a way where we have similarities. But yeah, I agree. Yeah. But being controversial, you know, recently that that Hoka that Hoka marketing ploy video was like, what was your your involvement with that?
00:51:42
Speaker
Actually nothing. Yeah. Yeah. So we have like a whole collab team that like shout out to them. They are killing it. Yeah. No, these are dope. You showed. I was like the bodega joints. Yeah. Oh, yes. The bodega joints were fire too. yeah um I mean, I'm still, I still want those dub taps. I still need those. Oh, really? Yeah, I got to find those.
00:52:02
Speaker
I don't know where you would find those. eBay probably. i yeah Maybe. yeah Yeah. um But yeah, Hoka has been a name for ah very long time. Not a very long time.
00:52:13
Speaker
for a good like a minute yeah yeah but i feel like the rise of 2020 where it was just everywhere yeah everybody was wearing them yeah you know and so like how did you end up in there and then let's talk about that video too okay yeah um so i got my job at hoka i think a year ago a year and like few months ago um it was It was networking. it was i was really ready for that next thing for myself.
00:52:45
Speaker
um I loved being a buyer. Like I said, like it was awesome. But I knew that I wanted to do more. um I would go to vendor meetings and I would you know give product feedback and tell them, like oh, I wish it had XYZ color or like,
00:53:00
Speaker
you know it would have been great if there was this and I really wanted to like be on that side where like I can like make change happen. um And so, yeah it was like you know networking, um kind of like understanding the layout of brand and what kind of roles are on the brand side because I didn't really know. I only knew um i only knew like what I worked with. So I always worked with sales reps or a planner on that side or the marketing team. I didn't know like the behind the scenes that was even further than that. yeah um and I learned about like merchandising and I learned about the merch team and I was like, wait, I wanna do this. yeah um like this is This is the ideal role.
00:53:39
Speaker
um And for anybody who doesn't know like what merchandising is, because it's like so it's so vast. like There's merchandising in the stores, like there's a visual merchandising, there's all types of different types of merchandising.
00:53:52
Speaker
So on the brand side, you're really like, you're kind of like looking at an entire line of products and for whatever category and region that you work for or that you're under you, it's your job to kind of assort for that region. So it's kind of like you're buying yeah for the region that you um have under you.
00:54:12
Speaker
um And I was like, this is so cool. Yeah. um So yeah, so I was super interested in that after I like like, you know, I talked to a few people to kind of just understand the role a little bit more and a role popped up um under the lifestyle team and it was the first like lifestyle um merchandising manager for Hoka and at the time like I was buying Hoka like as a buyer and I love the team like I was They were so dope. They were so fun to work with.
00:54:40
Speaker
They were very strategic in how they did everything. And I love that. Like there was always a reason why it's either yes or it's a no And I like structure. i'm I'm very much a person that likes structure. yeah um So I knew that they weren't doing things just because they wanted to be liked. I knew they were doing things because there was a process and that, you know, this is how they wanted to grow. um And yeah, a role opened up. I applied and um I was just super interested. Like I interviewed with a few people, multiple people actually. um
00:55:13
Speaker
And yeah, like I, I was super like, I couldn't believe that I like got the offer honestly, but I, in my, it like, I definitely like prayed for it. Like I was like, I was ready like for something new. Yeah. And I really wanted to figure out what that next thing was and like for me too it was like I at that time like before I had left I was at Foot Locker at that like from that moment when I was thinking about it like I was in the office for like eight years so i was like dang like ah Foot Locker for so long, like what's next for me type thing. It was kind of just like, what am I gonna do next? like am i am i gonna
00:55:49
Speaker
like Do I wanna move up in this role? Do I want to venture out and figure out something else? And it was really like, I i really wanted to get uncomfortable. yeah um And yeah, so it was it was surreal, like getting that job offer. yeah I couldn't believe it, I was like, okay.
00:56:05
Speaker
i was like, wow, this is really happening. So like, you know, you talk about lifestyle merchandise. And so like, how does that how does that play into marketing as well? Oh, so we are such a tight-knit team. yeah yeah We are a very small team, I will tell you that.
00:56:22
Speaker
So I work with my marketing counterparts all the time, and they're awesome to work with because they're also super like like collaborative. like that You would work with people like and they would not be collaborative at all, and like this is like my thing, this is my this is like my job. like yeah Don't don't touch.
00:56:40
Speaker
No, like on my team, like everybody is super collaborative. Everybody wants to like hear everybody's thoughts like and we all kind of like come to a consensus together. But yeah, I work very closely with the marketing team and it's really nice because like I always wanted to do marketing also like in the back of my head. So i was like this is this role like puts me in a position where like I'm able to like flex. Yeah. And be able to like help out in areas that like I wouldn't have been able to otherwise. So I like that.
00:57:08
Speaker
And then I also get to work with the product team a little bit, like global merchandising. Like it's it's awesome. So it's good. So now y'all calling out all the other brands. I mean, hey, we said what we said. I don't know. like ah But we're towards the end of the podcast. and the last question I have deals with a little visualization.
00:57:28
Speaker
um i want you to think back to when you were about to get those shadow ah the shadow ones. Right now, you're you. Travel back in time behind yourself.
The Excitement of Acquiring Shadow 1 Sneakers
00:57:38
Speaker
What would you tell your younger self as they open that box?
00:57:43
Speaker
Oh my gosh. I would just say you're about to be so excited. Like you're about to just, that this is about to make your day. Yeah. Like for sure. Yeah. That, I mean, look, that's a, it's a legendary moment for you. it what For me, it was a core memory. Yeah. Hands down. Would you, they do, they do a shadow. Well, actually, did you get the, what do you think about the Chicago ah union slash shadows?
00:58:08
Speaker
Um, And would you do those? Or like the reverse? I wouldn't. No? No. You just need shadows? I just needed, yeah. Or just, you know, just Brad's or just Chicago's. yeah Like, I was good with that. Like, it was all good.
00:58:23
Speaker
um Yeah. you still You still cop ones? No. No?
00:58:31
Speaker
The last ones that I copped were dang, dang I'm trying to remember which, I'm trying to remember what came first. um it I think it was somewhere in between, um there was a green um women's one that came out in like 20, maybe 2021, 2020 maybe.
00:58:53
Speaker
twenty twenty maybe um They were like green with like sail. They were like, I love them. I still have them. And then um i got those 85 like all white okay Jordan ones, like the highs. No Virgil's for you at the end of the sun, the end of this year. Well, if I can get lucky, I would love a pair. You tapped in?
00:59:12
Speaker
I don't know if I'm tapped in on the Nike. Like Nike's tough. Like um I would love a pair of those for sure. Yeah, be like that would be like, locker that would be the first. See if your your old Foot Locker email is still active.
00:59:24
Speaker
I mean, honestly, I'm still friends with everybody that I used to work with on all the brands. So I don't know. I got to see. i do want a pair, though. I do. I do. i would I would buy that. Yeah. Yeah. Is there is there i don't know if you're able to say, is there like a pair or just even say, is there a pair of hokas that are coming out that you are like you're so excited to see?
00:59:45
Speaker
Oh my God. Wait, excited to see like when I first saw them. No, like come out like coming out. Coming out soon? Yeah. Yes. There's um there's a shoot coming out in ah and October that I'm super excited about.
00:59:56
Speaker
um Yeah. That's all i'll give you October. Yeah. Because i i'm I'm probably going to repost that joint. You should. Just said say well send me the post so I know.
01:00:06
Speaker
Yeah. But let everybody would know where to find you. Like my Instagram? area Whatever you want to plug. This is your plug your plug time i I mean, you can find me at Maymay on Instagram.
01:00:17
Speaker
That's two Ys. No, it's like three. Three Ys. There's like three Ys in the first and then two at the end. yeah And then, I mean, LinkedIn? Yes, you can find me LinkedIn. If you find My full name. Yeah. you find it. You'll find it.
01:00:32
Speaker
you can find you'll find it I'm there. Yeah, you'll find it ah Do not do not hit me for yet no this double is disclaimer. Do not do not hit me up for free sneakers. It's not happening. Yeah, actually don't because I can't I can't even really do it. lowkey can't, you know, so yeah, don't. It will be a disappointment. uh you know where to find me i am who is has on all social medias follow the podcast at my first kicks pod if you have a story hit me up info at my first kicks.com um support the patreon just started it up trying to get you know trying to get trying to get more people to pay and help me out here as i as i you know expand i don't know if i should be still saying it straight up like that like way pay pay me please just be straight up yeah yeah all good uh merch still you know cop a t-shirt if you can ah d's not here but if you are they just announced um oxymorons are doing a second tour um towards august to october very fire go check them out live um and uh you know we say each week wear your kicks peace thanks for sticking around and catching the end of my episode with may
01:01:46
Speaker
of course, as I promised, Patreon shout outs, shout out to Ross Adams, to Derek, shout out Derek, Fresh Poetic. You know, he was one of my, well, he was technically my second ah podcast host when I started my second podcast.
01:02:03
Speaker
Um, And also, Adam Neustetter, you know, like I said last week, he started this off. So I'm trying to make sure this Patreon is really, really a thing. You can be part of it by signing up for the Patreon. We got two tiers, like I said earlier in this episode.
01:02:18
Speaker
$3 tier, $5 tier. ah Hopefully, should be rolling merch out on there as well to make a little bit easier. i'm going to be putting the first 10 episodes, which are not on any DSP. It's going only live on...
01:02:32
Speaker
the My First Kicks Patreon, I'm also going to give a lot more, you know, behind the scenes in there, ah which I'll sprinkle throughout the YouTube as well. And i will be, you know, putting my thoughts on here, get a little bit more writing and newsletters going out every month about what I've experienced, the the events I've been able to go to. Hopefully I can also add in some pictures and videos ah videos that will help make this a lot more robust and
01:03:04
Speaker
also make the patron make the patrons patrons sorry make the patrons a lot more immersive and you know the current sneaker world and what i've been able to experience you know i've got a trip to portland coming up in august that has been talked about that will be included in only patreon the only place you will find it is in the patreon and i will obviously talk about it on an episode um maybe we'll record an episode out there
01:03:39
Speaker
um But I'm really looking to rely on you to help me, you know, kind of build this out a little bit more. So if you do have suggestions and you want to tap in and help me out and you know, want to see more, please write an email.
01:03:58
Speaker
um There's going to be a suggestion suggestion box on Patreon for more things. i'll I'll survey once we get over 10 episodes, 10 patrons. um Also announcing once we hit 10 episodes,
01:04:11
Speaker
patrons. I'm fumbling over this world. Once we hit 10 patrons, I'm going to do a special episode ah with a special guest. ah Well, previous guest. um It's going to be like this online only just for the patrons and hopefully every 10 episodes You know, every 10 patrons, I will put an extra episode up on just for y'all that you can only see on Patreon.
01:04:41
Speaker
So please subscribe. $5, $3, different tiers. um And, you know, wear your kicks, of course. So if you haven't and this is your first time checking out this episode or any of the episodes of this podcast, check out these videos here at the end of the SenseLate.