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Nice Kicks: What was your most vivid sport moment growing up in Chicago?
Jason Mayden: When Bo Jackson ran over Brian Bosworth at the goal line. Man, I remember punching a hole in the drywall of my basement when I saw that. I was so charged that I went straight to the wall and just punched it. He basically ended Brian Bosworth?s career in that one moment.
This one will hurt, but I still remember when John Starks went baseline on MJ and Horace Grant left handed. He turned that corner and just banged on them. That broke my heart, but I have to put it out there.
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Nice Kicks: What was the most monumental sneaker moment you had growing up?
Jason Mayden: In third grade, a girl I knew had the ?Military Blue? 4s on. I?ll never forget it. She had on a denim skirt, a blue top, her hair was in a bun with a blow pop in it and she had on the ?Military Blue? 4s. It was something about those 4s. I saved up money, and I cut grass to get those. When I finally got them, somebody stole them. It broke my heart. A few years later, when I became an adult, I met Gabriel Urist, and he made me the first Air Jordan 4 charm. From there, he took off and just started killing it. I?m loyal to Gabe for that reason. He?s a good guy.
Nice Kicks: What is the biggest, most exciting project that you’re currently working on as Nike’s Director of Innovation for Digital Sports?
Jason Mayden: I?m doing a sponsored project with CCS, my undergrad. We?re doing something for the Sneaker Ball event, which is a party Nike throws every February as a culminating event for our efforts around Black History Month. I came on board this year to manage that event with a team of three other people, and we?re going to do something like I did for Doernbecher. We?re doing that for Big Brothers/Big Sisters to raise awareness around the lack of mentors for black children.
We?re trying to create a product line that features some exclusive Destroyer jackets and others things to be auctioned off on February 24th and at NIKETOWN, we will have a big party. All proceeds will go towards Big Brothers/Big Sisters to try to eliminate the lack of black mentorship. I want to encourage as many people as possible to not wait until you have your own kid because these children are our children. Someone needs to be there for them, and it needs to be us.
Nice Kicks: What does Black History Month particularly mean to you?
Jason Mayden: I celebrate black history everyday, so I don?t even focus on February. February is a great marketing tool, but I try to focus on it 365. I feel like we?re living black history everyday. Every time you do something, as a black person, you have the potential to be the first. You can be the first black President or you can be the first person in your family to get a college degree. I look at black history as everybody?s history. It shouldn?t be completely confined to the black culture. It?s part of the fabric of what America is.
When we talk about black history, we have to talk about America?s history, and understand our significance. Also, we need to know our global history and the contributions of Africans and black people in general. It?s amazing. It?s people you?ve never met that died for you to be here. It?s not history because it?s still alive. History is something that happened. It needs to be ?Black Current Month? or something because our accomplishments aren?t just in the past. We?re creating new ones, and I?m sure there will be even more to talk about.
John Starks dunking on Michael Jordan and Horace GrantNice Kicks: What advice would you offer to someone wanting to follow your career path?
Jason Mayden: Be vocal about it and dream out loud. The difference between a dream and a goal is a timeline. If you dream out loud, people will hold you accountable to your dreams and then you have to put some action behind your words. Dream out loud, and tell people what you want to do. Don?t be afraid to approach folks. If you see a designer, reach out to him. If you have someone?s Facebook, hit them up. Put yourself out there. Don?t be afraid to ask questions. Don?t ask for free product, hook-ups and jobs, but ask for advice and feedback. Even to this day, I reach out to folks I don?t know. I?ll hit someone in a heartbeat from Microsoft, Google, Pepsi or EA Sports and just say, ?I?m learning, and I want to know more about what you do?.
Always seek mentors, but seek advocates as well. Dream out loud and reach out to folks. That?s my words of wisdom.
