Phil Knight - Nike co-founder : 'Shoe Dog'

Phil Knight, cofounder of Nike about how luck, grit, and a handful of eccentric characters came together to build Nike. In 1962, fresh out of business school, Phil Knight borrowed $50 from his father and created a company that had a simple mission: import high-quality, low-cost athletic shoes from Japan. Selling the shoes from the trunk of his Plymouth, Knight grossed $8000 in his first year. Today, Nike's annual sales top $30 billion. In an age of start-ups, Nike is the ne plus ultra of all start-ups, and the swoosh has become a revolutionary, globe-spanning icon, one of the most ubiquitous and recognizable symbols in the world today. In a candid discussion, Knight shares his crossroads moment, when at 24 he decided to start his own business. He details the many risks and daunting setbacks that stood between him and his dream. Above all, he recounts how his first partners and employees soon became a tight-knit band of brothers. Together, harnessing the transcendent power of a shared mission and a deep belief in the spirit of sport, they built a brand that changed everything. Knight's success story is studded with lessons—about building something from scratch, overcoming adversity, and ultimately leaving your mark on the world. Knight served as CEO of Nike from 1964 to 2004 and continues to this day as chairman emeritus.