Looking Back on Nike’s Evolution from Startup to Global Enterprise

About this episode

Phil Knight discusses the founding of Nike and its innovative culture.

Phil Knight, co-founder, former CEO, and Chairman Emeritus of Nike, tells the story of starting the sports apparel and equipment giant after taking an entrepreneurship class at Stanford and teaming up with his former track coach, Bill Bowerman. Together, they changed how running shoes are designed and made. In this conversation from 2017, Knight reflects on the company’s enduring culture of innovation, as well as the company’s succession process for the CEO role.

People in this episode

Guest: Phil Knight

Topics covered

• Nike's evolution
• entrepreneurship
• innovation culture
• CEO succession
• sports apparel

Keywords

• Nike
• Phil Knight
• entrepreneurship
• innovation
• CEO succession
• sports apparel
• Bill Bowerman

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Nike, Harvard Business Review

Places: Stanford

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