In Summer 2025, I joined adidas as a product marketing intern for NCAA Basketball in Los Angeles, an experience that immersed me in the world of product marketing and the basketball apparel business. Working alongside the Basketball Product Marketing team, I contributed to NCAA Basketball initiatives, university partnerships and seasonal product launches. Collaborating cross-functionally with sports marketing, merchandising, design and development teams gave me firsthand exposure to how products move from concept to market and how adidas leverages athlete and consumer insights to drive business decisions.
Knowing I wasn’t ready for my three-stripe journey to end, I returned to LA complete my Senior Capstone experience with adidas in Spring 2026. This chapter allowed me to bridge classroom learning with real-world application, analyzing industry challenges and opportunities through the lens of one of the most influential brands in sport. It also gave me the chance to step into the inline side of the business, where I took ownership of the accessories and performance graphics categories, two areas that offered a great deal of autonomy and allowed me to lead work from concept through execution.
This pushed me to think beyond design and consider how product comes together in a retail setting, including range cohesion, consumer appeal and storytelling. It also shifted my perspective in a meaningful way, moving from the team-focused mindset I developed through my work with Syracuse Women’s Basketball and NCAA apparel to a broader, more consumer-driven approach.
I left my Capstone with a stronger foundation in product marketing, a deeper appreciation for the intersection of sport and business, and a renewed passion for creating impactful experiences for athletes and consumers. I’m thrilled to continue building on that momentum with adidas post-graduation.