A Running Shoe Brand Optimized for Women | Wes Felix, Saysh

CEO: Chief Eternal Optimist with Kevin Rutherford

Finding racing shoes shouldn’t have been a struggle for Olympic champion Allyson Felix. She had already won 32 career medals and helped usher in game changing pay guarantees and pregnancy protections. But inequality knows no bounds, and she still saw disparities in a footwear industry that didn’t bother to consider bodies that weren’t male.

So she teamed up with her brother, Wes, and together they built Saysh, a collection of stylish, functional sneakers designed for everyday performance. Inequality might know no bounds, but neither do the Felixs.
About host Kevin Rutherford

Kevin is a human-centric leader helping you to unlock your team’s full potential by creating a dynamic and engaging work environment. Joined by other thought leaders, they will share tools they have used to create highly successful teams through culture-first leadership.

Kevin Rutherford is a CEO, board member, public speaker and team culture expert who believes in the power of people. As CEO of two different companies, he shaped their company cultures resulting in recognition as one of ‘Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work’ for a total of six years. Known as the Chief Eternal Optimist, he has made it his mission to create a working environment where everyone can succeed and thrive. Join Kevin on a journey to help you and your team become the very best they can be.
Special thanks to our sponsor, The Running Event!
We were at The Running Event 2023 in Austin, Texas in November and want to share a bit about our experience.
The Running Event, also known as TRE, is an annual in-person conference and trade show for run and outdoor specialty retailers, brands, media and other industry professionals from across the US and even the globe. It’s a great opportunity for those in the industry to come together, do business and make new connections. The Running Event 2023 was the largest in the show’s 17-year history, welcoming more than 4,000 total visitors and featuring 314 exhibiting brands like Brooks, HOKA, On, Saucony, Balega, ASICS and New Balance.
A big takeaway for us is that TRE is a lot more than a trade show. There was so much buzz and good energy at the event, and you could tell people were really making connections, doing business and talking shop—all while really having a good time. We loved our time at TRE, and if you’re in the run or outdoor specialty business, we definitely recommend you check out the 2024 event.
The Running Event 2024 will take place November 19-21 in Austin, TX, at the Austin Convention Center; registration is set to open mid-July. Visit TRE’s website: https://www.therunningevent.com

Contact: Christina Henderson, Event Director, The Running Event [e-mail]