Nina Flood is a survivor and a thriver.
The global brand president of Timberland has worn a number of hats in her more than 20-year career at VF Corp. After spending a decade in marketing and public relations at Guess, she started at VF in a similar role for Nautica. Her first presidential position was at Kipling, followed by Eastpak and JanSport. She joined Timberland as vice president and general manager of the company’s European region before being elevated to the top post at the brand at the end of last year.
As one of the top female executives in the footwear industry, Flood prides herself on sharing her knowledge and experience with other future leaders. As she explained: “Growing up, I always wanted to be a teacher. When I was 9 years old, the only thing I wanted for Christmas was a classroom. My dad found a school that was getting rid of some old furniture and bought a teacher’s desk, some student desks, a blackboard and some old textbooks. A dream come true. When I went to college, I charted my path to be a teacher. It wasn’t until my last year that I decided I might like to try something else first, but I never lost that desire to teach and the fulfillment I get from helping others learn.”
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As her career progressed, Flood still held on to the dream and thought she might exit the fashion industry for the classroom.
But one day, while giving a junior associate a performance review where they outlined the employee’s accomplishments, capabilities and goals, she realized that a desk and a blackboard weren’t necessary to be a teacher. “I could teach every day in a job that I loved and impart some bits of wisdom that might help others on their journey,” Flood said.
In her career at VF, Flood said she has “identified many high-potential men and women along the way; and each of them helped me grow as much as I like to think I’ve helped them. As demanding as my role is as global president for Timberland, it’s a top priority for me to maintain the mentorships I have, while continuing to develop new ones.”
She added: “Being a mentor, a teacher, is part of my identity and sits at the heart of my leadership philosophy. I recognize that I’ve had privileges and support in my life that not everyone is afforded, and it’s not only my duty, but my greatest pleasure to pay it forward.”
She singled out Eric Wiseman, the former CEO of VF, as one of her mentors. “He trusted me and challenged me with stretch opportunities that pushed me outside my comfort zone. He helped me understand the concept of ‘building my toolbox,’ and his mentorship was fundamental in my leap from marketing and strategy to general management.” She also said Karen Murray, the former brand president of Nautica, “served as an incredible role model to me in terms of female leadership. Karen always showed up as her authentic self — balancing family and work, and deeply committed to charitable work.”
Flood said the best advice she ever received from a mentor is to “be present. As women, as professionals, as human beings, we often have many things competing for our time and our brain space. If you can’t be focused, engaged and in the moment, then reschedule to a time when you can be.”
Flood said she lives by several key leadership rules. “Build early momentum and map out your first 30-day plan — the who, what, when and how. Figure out what you don’t know, fast, and then create a learning agenda. Get after a few early wins; they should be meaningful, but not overly complicated. It helps you build confidence and trust. Then move on to ‘next,’ where you’ll lay the groundwork for long-term success. Review the team, make sure you have the right people in the right places for that moment in the business. Think about processes you may need to transform. Take the time to understand how things are working and identify points of friction with fresh eyes. Have a look behind the curtain, go a little deeper, sit in as many key meetings as you can to understand team dynamics and opportunities to improve.”
She said successful leaders take time to build trust with their teams and lead with empathy. “The team needs to see the path for success — their own and that of the business — under new leadership. Be empathetic, spend time to understand your key players, their motivations and aspirations, their skills, past experiences and accomplishments — and make sure you remember them. These connection points matter,” she said.
And Flood had one final thought. “Never ‘fake it ‘til you make it.’ Do the work. Be the real deal. And be confident — remember, you have earned your seat at the table.”
A version of this article appeared in the June 3 print issue of FN, as part of the “Women Who Rock” special section. On June 5, FN and Two Ten Footwear Foundation will honor these women at a live event in New York City.
