RLA - Where R They Now: NIKE
Aug 03 | General
By: Stephanie Mamakas
ScarletKnights.com
From ball girl to walk-on for the Rutgers women's basketball program, Brittany Lapidus used her hard work and dedication to help pave her way onto the squad in 2010. Following graduation, Lapidus relied on the same work ethic to develop her status from intern to employee for NIKE, Inc.
After taking an internship at NIKE World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, between her junior and senior season at Rutgers, Lapidus was offered a job with the company following graduation. Now the former Scarlet Knight holds the title of Associate Product Line Manager for NBA and Basketball T-Shirts. As an APLM for NIKE, Lapidus works closely with various departments, including the designers, developers, merchant partners, sales team and more to orchestrate the process of turning an initial design into products out on retail shelves.
"It's been a long journey, but it all started at Rutgers," said Lapidus. "When I was a player, I always had the utmost respect for the brand. I mean who doesn't love NIKE. I expressed this to Coach Stringer knowing that she had a great partnership with the company. She was right on board helping me to work towards my goals of working here."
Amongst a list of various honors and recognition, NIKE most recently honored Hall of Fame Head Coach C. Vivian Stringer with its 2015 Black History Month collection. Stringer was amongst a decorated list of athletes and coaches recognized who have positively impacted sport with their courage and determination. While paving the way for herself and many others through women's basketball, Stringer has also encouraged and aided her former student-athletes off the court as well, including Lapidus.
In addition to her gratitude for the opportunity, Lapidus is also grateful for the lessons learned from being coached by Stringer and from being a part of the Rutgers athletics family. To this day, the words instilled in practice and beyond has resonated with Lapidus.
"I remember her always saying `get it done yesterday,' and her always having that sense of urgency and having preparedness whether it was for a game, for a test, for an assignment, for a practice for a drill," explained Lapidus. "Always being prepared and anticipatory for things that may happen in the future, I have been able to use that. If I have a deadline coming up, I still hear coach Stringer's words in my head saying `get it done yesterday' to make sure I get things done and get them done well."
Additionally, Lapidus' journey from ball girl to manager to walk-on sculpted her character of a true team player.
"One thing I really learned through my experience as a walk-on specifically was trying to find the best way that I could be an asset to the team," said Lapidus. "I worked hard on the court, but I knew that might not be the best way to be an asset. I knew I could work hard off the court. I knew I could stay after practice and rebound or work with my teammates if they needed it. I've taken that same idea into the workplace."
Lapidus continues to go the extra length and find the best way to aid her team whether in a Scarlet uniform or the workplace. For Lapidus, that said workplace has more familiarity to her time "On the Banks" than other office buildings might have offered.
"NIKE campus is definitely like a college campus. There is a lot of energy. Everyone is really passionate about sports whether they've played or just fans or respect athletics," said Lapidus. "The grounds are beautiful. And like at college campuses everyone is walking back and forth to lunch or different meetings or to the gym and different activities that go on around campus. NIKE has a very casual culture, a work hard, play hard culture."
Between the two gyms on campus, the intermural leagues to participate in, and the NIKE athletes training nearby, there is one specific element of the campus that makes Lapidus feel like she is still at Rutgers.
On the NIKE campus many of the buildings pay tribute to the world's best athletes and coaches, one of which is named after Rutgers' hall of fame head coach. The C. Vivian Stringer Child Development Center is a 35,000 square foot facility, houses 26 classrooms which provide care, learning and development for nearly 300 children between the ages of six months and five years old.
From the Stringer and Rutgers memorabilia in the lobby to each conference room named after family members, the Marlboro, New Jersey, native is thankful to have the center nearby to reminisce when she is homesick.
"One of the first things I did when I started here was go to the building and take a tour of it. It is so special. Everytime I pass it, it makes me think of coach and really think about the reason I'm here at NIKE and how my career has progressed is because of Coach Stringer, said Lapidus.
"It is a really nice reminder of where I came from and I am forever grateful of her and it is a reminder of that when I see the building. I love the details that have gone into the building that are significant to coach and in turn are significant to me. From time to time I just go in there and reminisce and think of coach."
While the building materializes various memories of Rutgers, Lapidus' coworkers also aid in keeping her love for Scarlet imminent.
"From time to time, someone will send me a Rutgers project they are working on which is really nice," Lapidus said. "That is one of the great things about NIKE is everyone is a great partner and I have been able to create a great network. People know I am a Scarlet Knight and if they are working on something that they can shoot it over to me."
In addition to that, Lapidus has also connected with a group of fellow Rutgers alumni that get together for lunch frequently. That group is excited to attend the Rutgers at University of Washington football game this fall, which will hold over Lapidus until she is able to return to the RAC.
"Growing up and being such a big fan and always going to games at the RAC and then having the unbelievable opportunity to play there and suit up for them. The RAC itself I miss," said Lapidus. "It has always held a special place in my heart. I remember being a ball girl and wiping sweat up in 2007, the year the team made it to the final four. and all the way up to playing there. I miss the atmosphere of the RAC and knowing everyone working there and the familiarity and the family feeling of being there."
While she counts the days to return to the Garden State, there is no doubt that Lapidus will be just fine at NIKE campus.
"It's a lot of fun, it's a lot of work, but it is definitely a pretty amazing place," said Lapidus. "It's like a wonderland."
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