When a sports career and professional career collide. 🇿🇦🏑
Meet Sanani, an Olympic athlete and Manager of Brand Communication at @adidas South Africa. After her international hockey career, adidas enabled her to work in an environment where she could bring the lessons she learned from professional sports into the corporate world.
“I’ve worked for adidas during two different periods of my career. I first started in 2016, in a role that aligned with my athletic background: Activation Manager for Running. Being part of the team that launched adidas Runners in Cape Town and Johannesburg was an incredible achievement for me. We created a running community that felt fresh and unique, adding to the running culture in South Africa. The community has continued to grow every year since.
Two of the biggest lessons I learned from working on adidas Runners were collaboration and creativity. We worked closely with various departments, staying focused on building a long-lasting, inclusive community. It’s inspiring to see original members still running with adidas Runners years later. 🏃
After spending some time studying, focusing on hockey and working with other brands, I returned to adidas in 2023, drawn back by the culture that reminded me of the rewarding teams I’ve been part of in sports. Now, I help build the brand across diverse African markets, ensuring authenticity and respect. Every day and country is different—and that’s the fun part!
I’ll continue to be proud of making sure our brand lives authentically and respectfully in some of the most diverse countries.” ❤️
#inside3stripes
