I Was Once in Their Shoes

Every summer, a new group of interns arrives at adidas North America, ready to begin their journey and learn what it means to work for one of the world’s most recognizable sports brands. They come from different parts of the world, different schools, cities, and backgrounds. But they share one thing: the opportunity to discover what they are capable of when they are given meaningful work and real-life responsibilities at a company that invests in their growth.

This summer, 37 interns stepped into that opportunity in Portland, Oregon, Los Angeles, California, and Woodbridge, Ontario. At adidas, internship opportunities meet talent at different points in their journey, from students gaining work experience through the undergraduate internship program to retail employees exploring roles beyond the store through the Unlimited program. Together, these programs and the intern alumni network help interns learn about the business, build confidence, stay connected, and see where their future with the brand could lead.

As one of the people helping to coordinate the experience, I had a front-row seat to their summer. I watched them navigate their first week, build connections, take on real business challenges, meet with leaders they might never have imagined themselves sitting in front of, and eventually present ideas of their own to the organization.

But there was something particularly meaningful about watching this class grow.

A Summer Built for Growth

From the start, the goal of the internship was bigger than giving students and retail employees a glimpse into day-to-day life at adidas. It was about creating an experience that helped them understand the business, build confidence, and see where their own paths could lead.

Interns were given real challenges that contributed to the business. Across each location, they applied what they learned from school and retail settings, while developing an entirely new set of skills. They experienced how teams collaborate across functions, how ideas are presented, how partnerships are built, how to seek understanding, and how to develop confidence in their own way.

Throughout the 12-week program, our interns also met with leaders, recruiters, intern alumni, and one another through sessions, networking and community events.

The goal: To give interns an environment where they can grow and learn.

Intern Immersion Week

If there was one moment that brought the full internship experience together, it was Immersion Week in Portland, where all 37 interns from all locations came together in one place. The week gave them the opportunity to step outside their individual roles, be part of a broader intern community, and problem-solve in real time.

They connected with former interns who were once in their shoes. They engaged with leaders across the organization. They nurtured creativity and innovation. And they had an opportunity to showcase why they were selected to be part of the program.

One of the highlights of the week was an innovation challenge with the aim of solving a real business problem while bringing different perspectives, ideas, and ways of thinking into one room. They only had a few hours to work together before presenting their ideas the next day.

A Day in the Life of an Intern

To bring the intern experience to life, Kyle, one of this summer’s Los Angeles-based interns, shares a day in his life with adidas. Interning with Originals, Basketball and Partnerships, Kyle offers a glimpse into the day-to-day work, the people he connected with and the moments that shaped his summer, including the cohort’s trip to Portland for Intern Immersion Week.

Reflecting on my Own Internship Experience

As I look back at the summer, I found myself thinking about my own first days with adidas.

Before helping coordinate an internship program, before becoming a full-time employee at corporate level, and before I even stepped into the role I currently have, my own story started somewhere.

I started in stores. From there, opportunities opened up for me, including the Unlimited internship program. Looking back, I couldn’t imagine where it would take me. I only knew that someone took a chance on me and gave me the space to learn and show what I could do.

The internship program became an important part of my journey. It was a gamechanger in my own development. It gave me a glimpse of the hard work that everyone puts in on campus. It introduced me to the people who became part of my everyday work life without even knowing it. It challenged me to think outside the box, gave me an opportunity to grow, and ultimately felt like I belonged.

Years later, I found myself on the other side of the experience, helping create that opportunity for someone else. That’s why, at the end of the day, this work matters to me.

Reflections from Another Perspective

In June 2023, Angel Delveccio and I walked into adidas as interns together. At the time, neither of us could have known where the experience would take us. Angel began his journey through the undergrad program. After the summer, he secured a limited duration position, which eventually turned into a full-time role.

When asked to reflect on his experience, Angel explained that it created opportunities he never expected, pushing him outside his comfort zone and leading to new friendships, new events, different approaches to work and experiences that helped lead him to his current role.

When asked what skills he gained from the internship experience, he said, “Public speaking and critical thinking were the two biggest skills I was able to get out of internship. The brand truly encourages people to take initiative and create meaningful impact on a day-to-day basis.”

Since we completed our internship in 2023, Angel’s career has taken him across Supply Chain Management, Finance, and now Merchandising. His journey is a reminder that one summer can help someone learn, explore and discover where they can make an impact.

For Angel, walking through the doors in 2023 was only the beginning.

A Path Unknown

The adidas internship program doesn’t just give talent an opportunity to experience adidas. It gives adidas an opportunity to discover top talent. As the class of 2026 departs, they all leave here with their own experience. I don’t know where each of their paths will lead.

Some may return to adidas. Some might not. Some may take what they learned during their 12 weeks and apply it elsewhere. And some may find themselves sitting where I am right now, looking back at the next generation of interns and remembering when they first stepped on campus.

I Was Once in Their Shoes

An internship at adidas North America might only be 12 weeks long, but those weeks can be enough to help someone find confidence, build relationships, learn lessons they carry forward and discover what they’re capable of along the way. I know this because I lived it.

If my journey has taught me anything, it’s that sometimes, all it takes is one summer. One summer to change everything. One summer to show you where the future begins.