Amy Jones Vaterlaus

VP Sport Innovation @ Nike | Future Thinking Into Market Reality | Business Strategist | Board Member | Speaker

United States

About

I’m a Future(s) Builder. A visionary who thrives at the intersection of technology, human potential, and innovation, I bring bold ideas to life—scaling products and services that don’t just meet market expectations but redefine them. My journey spans leading Fortune 100 & 500 innovation teams, startups, and nonprofits, delivering groundbreaking solutions in sport, lifestyle, wellbeing, and consumer tech. From award-winning wearables to sustainable solutions and first-of-their-kind products and experiences, I’ve turned ideas into industry shifts. With a human-centered approach and deep expertise in leveraging data, strategy, and creativity, I connect people and ideas to deliver transformational results. Core Expertise: * Breakthrough Innovation Strategy & Execution * Moonshot Program Leadership * Data and Science-to-Consumer Product Translation * Women's Innovation & Market Development * Physical & Digital Experience Design * Relentless Intrapreneur with Future-Focused Mindset I’m here to create, elevate, and ignite what's possible. Let’s connect—I’m always excited to collaborate, share ideas, and explore ways to shape the future together.

Experience

  • Nike (2 yrs 10 mos)
    • VP Sport Innovation Studio
      Sep 2025 - Present · 11 mos

      Unifying, multiplying, and amplifying innovation impact across the sport portfolio for Nike, Converse, and Jordan brands.

    • Vice President Product Research, @ Nike Sports Research Lab - Advanced Innovation
      Oct 2023 - Oct 2025 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      Driving differentiation in Product Development and enhanced Athlete Experience through the strategic convergence of data, human science, and creativity. Leveraging biomechanics, physiology, perception, and neuroscience to define and deliver innovative end-to-end models that elevate athlete performance and product desirability from concept to consumer.

  • Member at Chief
    Apr 2022 - Present · 4 yrs 4 mos

    A private network built to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there. Chief is the only organization specifically designed for the most powerful women executives to strengthen their leadership, magnify their influence, and pave the way to bring others with them.

  • National Board Member at YMCA of the USA (National Resource Office)
    Feb 2023 - Oct 2024 · 1 yr 9 mos

    The Y is a leading nonprofit strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Y engages nine million youth and 12 million adults in 10,000 communities across the U.S.

  • SVP Global Innovation at adidas
    Dec 2020 - Oct 2023 · 2 yrs 11 mos

    Visionary leader driving high-impact innovations that accelerate brand growth and inspire athlete performance. Delivered the Future of Sport through commercial franchise solutions, disruptive technologies, and ROI-focused innovation strategies. Led development of high-performance footwear and apparel products using new materials, personalized retail solutions through digital, data and AI-driven creation. Pioneered sustainable performance footwear and apparel through strategic partnerships. Consistently elevated market leadership through technological advancement and athlete-inspired insights.

  • adidas (14 yrs 10 mos)
    • VP Future - Consumer and Tech
      2018 - 2020 · 2 yrs

      Pioneered consumer-led projects and equity-centered research that combines data with insight, to identify and deliver scalable and industry leading business, consumer and technology platforms driving positive social and environmental impact. Value based additive and robotic manufacturing, data driven apparel creation to sustainable materials and partnerships.

    • Sr Director Future - Women’s Innovation
      Dec 2017 - Mar 2018 · 4 mos

      Established future vision and direction for innovation relating to female athletes, introducing new approaches and opportunities for gender equitable design in sport. Stimulated cross-business collaboration to boost teamwork and economic value, and expansion of female athlete community externally.

    • Sr Director Digital Sport Experience Future
      Mar 2015 - Dec 2017 · 2 yrs 10 mos

      Directed athlete insight, strategy and experience design for award winning mobile, wearable tech and digital experiences. Development of digital communities thru a mobile experience based on behavioral and data science. Led software, hardware, UI and QA teams.