There are footwear industry mentors and then there’s Cheresse Thornhill-Goldson.
As director of design education and growth for Adidas S.E.E.D., a paid two-year footwear design program for Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) women, Thornhill-Goldson is committed to building a pathway for women of color to thrive in the business.
“When I was in college and coming into the industry, I was used to being the only woman of color on the design team,” said the veteran sneaker designer, who spent nearly a decade at Nike Inc. before becoming an educator and consultant. She joined Adidas in 2020. “To be able to help change that within S.E.E.D. has definitely been my greatest accomplishment thus far.”
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One of the biggest pieces of advice she gives her students is to learn about and understand themselves and what unique attributes they bring to their work — and a company. “The world is changing, the industry is changing, and there’s more space now for us to be who we are in the workplace,” she said.
Embracing uniqueness enhances design capabilities, said Thornhill-Goldson. It also helps ensure you’re in the right place. “Sometimes the discontent that’s inside of us is springing from misalignment with the work that we do or the brands that we’re a part of,” she explained.
The other benefit of knowing yourself, Thornhill-Goldson added, is that it makes you a stronger advocate when it’s time to negotiate for a role or salary increase, by understanding your non-negotiables and where you’re willing to give or bend. “Be honest with yourself about that,” she said. “And be okay with it, versus comparing yourself to what others might be making.”
When it comes to her own career, Thornhill-Goldson said her biggest challenge right now is learning to identify the signs of burnout before they kick in and to create boundaries for herself. That’s led her to forge more partnerships and develop trust in her teammates to carry some of the load.
“What I’m learning now is how to take care of myself,” she said. “And that’s tough when you’re so passionate about the work that you do.”
A version of this article appeared in the June 3 print issue of FN, as part of the “Women Who Rock” special section. On June 5, FN and Two Ten Footwear Foundation will honor these women at a live event in New York City.