Lucy Rouse
Lucy Rouse
VP, Ex Nike
Panellist
Topic: 5 Things Every Woman in Leadership Should Know
Lucy is a dynamic leader with nearly three decades of experience in the fashion and sporting industries. During her impressive 20-year tenure at Nike—where she held key leadership roles spanning sales, product management, digital, and general management—she distinguished herself through a transformative approach, a passion for innovation, and an unwavering commitment to fostering diverse, inclusive, and cross-functional teams that drive long-term vision and cultural evolution.
After spending her early twenties traveling and enjoying life, Lucy began her professional journey in London before moving to Australia, where she joined Nike as an Apparel Account Executive in Sydney. Over the next seven years, she rotated between Sydney and Melbourne, primarily in sales roles, building a solid foundation for her expansive career. Her strong performance led her to Nike’s Worldwide Headquarters in Portland, Oregon, where she assumed responsibility for Nike Sportswear Sales for the Asia Pacific/Latin America geography. Two years later, Lucy transitioned to Nike’s European HQ in the Netherlands, spending seven years in elevated general management roles—overseeing divisions such as Kids, Nike Sportswear, and Women’s—while leading teams and businesses across city, territory, and geography. During that time, her leadership accomplishments included reviving the Kids division from a projected downturn to a growth trajectory and scaling Nike Sportswear in EMEA to $4 billion in revenue.
In her most recent role as VP/GM Energy NBHD and SNKRS, based out of NYC, Lucy took on a global role and led one of Nike’s most influential segments. She managed Nike’s most important culturally relevant people, products, and partners, drove a multi-billion dollar portfolio, managed the SNKRS app, and directed high-performance teams across the world.
Lucy’s leadership is equally defined by her dedication to cultivating inclusive and diverse work environments. She has consistently mentored colleagues, nurtured emerging talent, and championed initiatives that empower teams from varied cultural, professional, and personal backgrounds. Believing that diverse perspectives fuel creativity and success, she has built teams that not only excel in performance but also embody the values of equity and mutual respect.
Currently on sabbatical, Lucy is dedicating her time to family, travel, and mastering French while continuing to explore ways to foster inclusive leadership and drive meaningful change.