On Dec. 3, Skechers cofounder and president Michael Greenberg will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 39th annual FN Achievement Awards. Below is an article from the magazine’s Dec. 1 print issue featuring Greenberg’s advice for the next generation of leaders.
Wisdom didn’t come all at once for Michael Greenberg. “For me, it came one shoe at a time, one season at a time, with many setbacks along the way,” he said.
Greenberg’s 40-plus year career in footwear has been built on passion, innovation, resilience and generosity.
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Born in Malden, Mass., the Skechers president and cofounder spent his early years in Foxborough, Needham and North Attleboro before moving to Miami at age 11. “While in school in Miami, I became a peer guide to children with special needs, assisting them as they navigated the school and classrooms,” he recalled. “At a very young age, this brought me closer to understanding the needs of others.”
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His time in Miami also introduced him to retail. Greenberg’s first job was selling women’s handbags at the Seventh Avenue flea market when he was 14. Two years later, the family moved to Southern California, where Greenberg continued to hone his skillset at Roller Skates of America (he’s a skilled roller skater) and at The Shoe and Clothing Connection in Woodland Hills.
Around that same time, his father, Robert Greenberg, was creating the LA Gear label, so Michael Greenberg left college in 1984 to join the growing brand. The business skyrocketed — and then reversed, forcing the father and son to exit in 1991.
Undaunted, they launched Skechers the following year, building it into an international footwear giant with annual net sales of $8.97 billion in fiscal 2024. (It’s on pace to top that this year, according to its last earnings report in August).
Their efforts culminated in a big win in September, when Skechers management closed a $9.42 billion go-private deal with Brazilian private equity firm 3G Capital — the biggest footwear and apparel buyout in history.
Greenberg, who will continue to serve as president of the company, said his path so far has been challenging but enlightening, yielding priceless lessons that he’s used to bolster the company and its people.
“The best teacher in the industry is your experience, and the best lessons usually come wrapped up in problems. But there’s a workaround to everything, and that’s really what makes the journey worth it,” he said.
Here, the executive shares more advice for the next generation of footwear leaders.
1. Be Passionate
“When we started Skechers, there were no road maps or guarantees. We had to forge our way with just obsession, and creating something new was our driving spirit. Persistence will build your brand. But there’s going to be sacrifice — time away from your friends and family, missed holidays. The shoe industry will test you every day. Supply chains may falter. Trends are forever shifting, and the competition is fierce. If you don’t love what you’re doing, you’re not going to last.”
2. Respect the Consumer
“The consumer is everything. Skechers became a multibillion-dollar global brand by listening more than talking. We started as a utilitarian work boot company, and today we have lifestyle and technical performance athletic footwear. We have comfort throughout all our lines and are very innovative in the children’s area. Our success was built on knowing our audience and not assuming we knew better. The best design, marketing or celebrity endorsements means nothing if the product doesn’t meet the real needs of the consumer.”
3. Always Innovate
“Shoes are about movement, and your company should also be about moving forward. Every era [of Skechers] has brought new technologies, from Air Cooled Memory Foam to Arch Fit, to Hands Free Slip-ins and so much more. If you stop evolving in the footwear world, it will move past you rather quickly. So embrace innovation, adapt your model and never be afraid to reinvent.”
4. Stay True to Your Culture
“Skechers is a family business at heart. Our success comes from a foundation of loyalty, shared vision and mutual respect within our organization. We’ve grown to more than 5,300 stores in roughly 180 countries. But our culture remains grounded in honesty and hard work. It’s not just about building a company. It’s about the people on your team, your customers, the community you create around your organization.”
5. Think Globally & Locally
“We were really good at thinking globally from the onset. In our second year, we were distributing in Australia and New Zealand, South Africa and Japan. The first subsidiaries were established in 2000, in the United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland. Our success depends on understanding the cultural nuances. We don’t just export shoes; we build relationships and strategies that are respected in each market. The next generation must think globally, but never forget their local consumer and where they started.”
And below, Greenberg’s friends and partners reflect on the shoe leader’s greatest skills.
Martha Stewart, Skechers ambassador
“Michael has been a creative and very interesting president and has been very receptive to my suggestions and my designs. I admire the fact that he has been able to work in a family business. He has been able to also incorporate a very vivacious personal lifestyle within that business, and he has fun.”
Howie Mandel, Skechers ambassador
“To meet and work with somebody who’s at the helm of this huge, iconic global success and find out that he’s probably one of the kindest, most charitable, most down-to-earth people you ever want to not only do business with but be friends with, it’s been wonderful. I’m impressed by his humanity along with his business acumen. His business is probably even more competitive than the business I’m in, so for them to take a totally unknown brand in 1992 to now [soon-to-be] number one, is an amazing feat.”
Brian Costello, Division president, Famous Footwear
“I’ve had the privilege of working with Michael from Day One of Skechers. Michael is tenacious — the epitome of a partner who is always looking for the white space and how to grow our business together. His feel for product and business acumen is among the best in the industry. But it is his deep love for family, integrity and partnership that stands out, and these are the reasons he is being recognized with this incredible honor from Footwear News.”
Mark Worden, President & CEO, Shoe Station Group (formerly Shoe Carnival)
“I’ve had the privilege of spending time with Michael over the years — dinners in Manhattan Beach, meetings in Charlotte, walking his showrooms on both coasts. What strikes me every time is how much he genuinely loves this business. Not the spreadsheets or the market share battles — he loves shoes. He’ll spend 20 minutes talking about a new comfort technology or why a particular design resonates with consumers. That passion is infectious. When you’re sitting across from someone who still gets excited about product after building a multibillion-dollar brand, it reminds you why we’re all in this industry.”
Eric Adjmi, President, Adjmi Apparel Group
“There are so many facets to [the Skechers] business, and the insane thing is that Michael knows every single aspect. He knows what Skechers retail is doing in Indonesia, he knows what his retail customers are buying in Taiwan. It’s so impressive. It’s just his DNA. Certain people are built to do certain things. They can focus, they can absorb, they can retain the information, and he’s got that. I also admire his ability to have fun. To be able to manage all those things and then disconnect so easily, that’s valuable.”
Tacey Powers, EVP & GMM of accessories, home, kids, shoes, Nordstrom
“We are thrilled to celebrate Michael Greenberg’s induction into the FN Hall of Fame. His commitment to philanthropy and support for initiatives that uplift both the footwear industry and the broader community is truly inspiring. Michael’s dedication to service motivates us all and we look forward to many more years of partnership.”
Scott Day, VP & DMM, Academy Sports
“Skechers are synonymous with comfort and technology. And that’s because of Michael. His superpower is to not settle for the status quo, both as a business partner and a business leader. He constantly challenges us to think differently and outside of the box to drive the business, while remaining centered on the customer. Also, Michael is the embodiment of a purpose-driven leader. While he remains very dedicated to the footwear industry and pushing our business forward, he is equally committed to giving back through philanthropic endeavors that make a positive impact. It’s a rare combination.”
For 39 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2025 event is supported by Caleres, Listrak, Nordstrom, Skechers, Vibram and Wolverine Worldwide.