Fostering a Culture of Belonging

We create community and allyship across NIKE, Inc. through our employee networks and leadership development.

At NIKE, our unique experiences are celebrated and all voices matter. These truths are at the core of our efforts to lean into our shared humanity and interconnectedness and build strong connections across geographies, cultures, life experiences and abilities. We believe that connection fosters deeper empathy, compassion and collective action to help ensure each athlete* is treated with respect and care.

Our Global UNITED Networks

Through our Global UNITED networks, employees are equipped to bring together diverse voices, perspectives and backgrounds to create a culture of inclusion and allyship. For over 30 years, employee-formed and -managed networks with chapters spanning our global workforce have activated NIKE’s culture of belonging. We invest in each network, providing resources and strategic governance aligned to our NIKE, Inc. enterprise strategy.

NikeUNITED Network Groups include: Ascend (Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific Islands) Network & Friends, Black Employee Network & Friends (BEN), Disability Network, Latino & Friends Network (LAFN), NIKE Military Veterans & Friends (NMV), Native American Network & Friends (NAN), PRIDE Network and Women of NIKE & Friends (WON).

ConverseUNITED Network Groups include: Converse Mosaic Network, Converse Pride Network, Women of Converse, Converse Military Veterans and Converse Disability Network.

In FY24, the Latino & Friends Network, our first UNITED network, celebrated 30 years while the NIKE PRIDE Network and Converse Pride Network celebrated 25 and 10 years. This legacy of impact shows NIKE’s unwavering steadfastness to the people and communities who bring NIKE’s mission to life.

UNITED networks regularly lean into interconnections to build community across NIKE, Inc. and help ensure our mission comes to life for athletes* around the globe. See how our work comes to life in the slideshow below.

See how our work comes to life

NIKE PRIDE and ASCEND networks collaborated to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month and kicked off PRIDE. Together hosting an inaugural Drag Brunch and our 2nd annual LIP SYNC Battle.

UNIDOS in Sport, an event co-hosted by our LAFN and Disability networks, featuring a Q&A with Mexican-American Paralympic Track and Field medalist Beatriz Hatz.

The Matriarch Panel, hosted by the Native American Network & Friends, Women of NIKE & Friends Network and ASCEND & Friends, featuring a discussion with Indigenous pro athletes Alissa Pili (WNBA – Lynx), Silent Rain Espinoza (USSSA – Smoke) and Madison Hammond (NWSL – Angel City FC) about their unique experiences and the future of sport in Native and Indigenous communities.

A Conversation with Justina Miles, a Deaflympics athlete and American Sign Language performer, hosted by Women of BEN & Friends and the Disability Network.

Air for everyWON Body Inclusivity Fashion Show,” hosted by the Women of NIKE & Friends and featuring employee models from across the business and our NikeUNITED Networks.

In EMEA, the Disability Network also hosted the first EMEA Inclusion Summit which provided essential training and featured a Q&A with Paralympian Bebe Vio.

Leadership Development

We know that leadership is essential in fostering a culture of belonging and allyship so we support leaders throughout NIKE in accessing meaningful development opportunities that equip them to create inclusive, diverse teams.

Our executive leadership, starting at the Vice President level, can access Meet the Moment. This program provides leaders with cutting-edge content and access to top-tier external partners so they can develop and refine the skills needed to build inclusive team practices that foster cross-cultural awareness, trust in leadership and community through empathy and understanding.

UNITED network group leaders, a voluntary role available to all employees, can access The Network Leadership Academy which equips them to tap into the power of their collective leadership, identify interconnection and intersectionalities and meaningfully foster a culture of belonging for all NIKE employees.