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family and belonging that an HBCU experience brings,” Mills remembers. “I had so many strong positive influences that instilled in me the importance of education and using that as a tool for empowerment.” Her main educational influence before local HBCUs and Howard University was her mother, a young, single mother, who would go on to take her along to college classrooms as she continued her education. “I literally had a front row seat as my mother navigated her college education and her professional career. She finished at a 4-year university and was my first inspiration in knowing that college would be in my future,” Mills remembers.
Mills now uses her platform to give back to students and young adults and help them realize their potential in her work at Nike.
“I have the honor to lead and influence in a space where I also have the opportunity to introduce students to their dream job,” said Mills who helps to demystify the process of getting a job and the job itself. “My role is to pull back the curtain and to let students know and understand that they can do it.” Her ideals correlate with the mission of Nike “to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world.” Nike deems everyone an athlete – “if you have a body, you are an athlete” is Nike’s motto. “I’ve been with Nike for over 5 years and during that time I’ve been able to establish strong innovative talent pathways. Early career and students and universities are such critical pipelines for talent,” said Mills. “Over the course of those years, I have been able to expand Nike’s reach by creating a comprehensive global university relations and recruiting program framework and amplifying additional diversity programs where we are activating our diversity and inclusion commitments. I’m thankful I get to do this work for a company that lives up to its mission.”
KIZMET MILLS
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