PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Don't equate hero leadership with autocratic leadership; collaborative leadership is the only kind that works today.

PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

If we don't listen to the voice of the athlete, we don't have anything.

PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

As an introvert entrepreneur, you have to believe in order to overcome shyness and succeed.

PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Returning to campus after many years is about sharing moments with family and friends and reflecting on the journey of becoming who you are.

PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

My undergraduate career was focused on track, but as a graduate student, I was focused on what I wanted to be, and Stanford was the right place at the right time.

PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

The idea for Nike came from my track coach's belief that lightweight shoes were neglected by major manufacturers, leading me to consider starting a shoe factory in Japan instead of Germany.

PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

I believed that if I could get a cooperative Japanese factory, we could make the idea work, and I was willing to take the chances despite being an introvert.

PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

The early Nike team was a bizarre group that complemented each other and believed in overcoming challenges together, which made it a successful culture.

PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Nike's culture, formed in the early days, is a big part of its success and has been modified but remains fundamentally strong.

PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

You can't be afraid of offending people; you have to take a stand, which is why the Kaepernick ad worked.

PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

John McEnroe was the right ambassador for Nike because he represented everything the tennis establishment was not, breaking the mold of traditional tennis players.

PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Nike's success with Michael Jordan stemmed from combining a distinctive shoe design with his exceptional talent, which resonated with consumers, especially after the NBA banned it.

PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

The product is Nike's most important marketing tool, and we continuously work to improve it, as seen with the success of the React running shoe.

PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

Collaborative leadership is the only effective leadership style today; don't confuse hero leadership with autocratic leadership.

PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

It's crucial for leaders to understand their team's unique communication styles, as effective communication varies from person to person.

PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

In times of crisis, we initially reacted defensively to accusations of sweatshops, but later shifted to a proactive approach, committing to transparency and improvement in our factories.

PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

As an introverted entrepreneur, I had to believe in my vision to overcome shyness and navigate the inevitable dark days of entrepreneurship.

PK

Phil Knight

02/08/19

@ Stanford Graduate School of Business

To succeed as an entrepreneur, you need a niche and a passion, as there will be many challenging days ahead.

Phil Knight, MBA ’62, Co-founder and Chairman Emeritus, Nike

Takeaways