From 2006 to 2025, the Vomero writes its 18th chapter, continuing its contemporary journey, while remaining the epitome of running’s universal appeal. This same appeal has been at the heart of Nike since its inception, rooted in the visionary spirit of Phil Knight and the University of Oregon tartan. After the wave of athletic excellence experienced during the long summer in Paris, the Swoosh unveils a shoe for everyone—including children—and inspired by women perspectives. We had the privilege of listening to Marian Dougherty and Ashley Campbell, delving into the innovations behind this product, and exploring the symbiotic connection between their common athletic backgrounds and Nike careers, driven by the desire to improve present and future generations of athletes.

Before joining Nike, Marian Dougherty was a professional soccer player, while Ashley Campbell was a top-level high school and collegiate runner. Their voices and paths not only introduce the Vomero 18 and their maximum cushioning, available from February 27th 2025, but also bring together passion and technology, individual dreams and collective progress. They share the universal value of running—the most democratic sport in the world—and highlight its profound influence on Nike’s ever-revolutionary history.

Given your shared backgrounds, what have been some of the most significant moments in your relationship with sports, and how have they influenced your current roles at Nike?

Marian Dougherty – Senior Director, Global Running Footwear: “I played professional soccer, and I was lucky and fortunate enough to have that opportunity. Honestly, it has shaped who I am today. It’s given me everything. Soccer gave me that competitive spirit—I love being on teams and working with others. It also instilled in me this drive to always improve products for athletes. I remember how much the footwear I wore when I played soccer meant to me and how it gave me an edge. Whether it was mental or not, it really worked for me. So, I’ve always had this passion for creating products that help athletes perform better, but doing it as part of a team, and always striving to be on the winning side.”

Ashley Campbell – Running Footwear Product Line Manager: “I wasn’t a professional athlete, but I ran cross-country and track in high school and college. Running is in my roots—it’s something I’m really, really passionate about. I always knew I’d probably end up working in the running industry to some degree, but as a kid, I never imagined I’d get to work for such a great running brand like Nike. I remember my first high school cross-country championship race, the one Nike owns and operates in the U.S. It’s an amazing event that we’ve been running for a long time. That was the moment I really fell in love with Nike, because I could see, as a young runner, just how much Nike does for the sport—especially for youth sports. Since then, Nike has been imprinted on me. After graduating from college, I coached for a while and then started working at a Nike store. I loved the brand so much and wanted to see what it was all about. That’s where I got my start, and luckily, my career just took off from there. I’ve had so many incredible experiences at Nike, from helping with Nike Cross Nationals as a former runner to witnessing major events like the Rio Olympics. There have been so many memorable moments. But for me, it’s all about giving back to the sport that gave me so much, and that’s really the reason I’m here today.”

As former athletes, how do you feel about the opportunity to impact contemporary sports culture and imagery?

Ashley Campbell – Running Footwear Product Line Manager: “It’s an honor to be a part of it. We get to work on products that reach so many runners. We’re serving nearly everyone, especially when it comes to running. It’s really exciting to think about all the decisions we make along the way and how many people they’ll impact. Our goal is to build incredible products and drive innovation, helping bring more people into the sport of running. It’s about making running more enjoyable for everyone. Of course, the performance side helps take athletes to new heights, or even break records… We obviously serve some of the best athletes in the world. It’s such an honor to be part of it all, and that’s what motivates me every day. It’s just such a fun and rewarding job.”

Marian Dougherty – Senior Director, Global Running Footwear: “I’m similar. I always say that after playing professionally, I wasn’t sure I’d find another love and passion like soccer. But I found it in Nike. Again, it really comes down to the fact that we get to inspire people. I’m talking, first and foremost, about women. We inspire female athletes to compete at the highest level or simply to get out the door and go for a run. The same goes for kids. I have two young children of my own, and when I share with them what I do—create products that make people happier and inspire them to run or play their sport—it’s something truly special. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t pinch myself.”

During the introduction of the Vomero 18, you mentioned the special role of women’s perspectives and feedback in shaping this product. Can you tell us more about this shift and why it’s so important?

Ashley Campbell – Running Footwear Product Line Manager: “From the many years we’ve spent working with women athletes, we know that when we truly listen to what women need in their products and act on that feedback, it makes our products better for all athletes. The Vomero 18 was no exception. One thing we often hear from women is that cushioning and comfort are among the most important factors they look for in an everyday running shoe. So, it was really important for us to lean into women’s feedback and make them an integral part of our insights and product testing, ensuring that we deliver an experience that’s right for them. Fit is another key factor that comes up frequently when we work with women. They tell us that the right fit is essential to providing a comfortable running experience. For the Vomero 18, we built our first prototype on a women’s sample size, so we could really focus on getting the fit and feel just right from the start. Then, in every round of testing, we made sure women were at the center of it. We test with everyone, but again, we really leaned into women’s insights, carefully identifying any nuances in their feedback. For the Vomero 18 in particular, a lot of the feedback we received from women led to improvements that made the shoe better for everyone. And I’d also add that color and style are really important to women. So, we wanted to make sure we offered a range of colors that could appeal to everyone and give women the choices they’re looking for. They tell us that day-to-day, they often have different preferences when it comes to how they express themselves through color. You’ll see that with the Vomero 18—each season, we’ll offer a wide range of colors: from classic, wearable tones to bold and energetic shades. We want to ensure we’re providing that variety so women can express themselves however they see fit.”

You also mentioned that the shoe will be available for kids. How important is this aspect of the product in Nike’s overall vision?

Marian Dougherty – Senior Director, Global Running Footwear: “Our goal is to ensure we’re inspiring kids from the very beginning. It’s our opportunity to make them lifelong fans of the brand from the start. Kids’ running looks very different from adults. It can range from running outside at school and having races with friends, to kids taking on their first race—whether it’s their first mile or just going for a jog with their parents. Our goal is to make sure they have access to our best running products for every part of that journey. But it’s also about inspiring them to move. This is the key. If I had to sum it up in one message, it’s about inspiring kids to move, get outside, and have fun. That’s our job—to inspire them.”