Natalie White is the Founder and CEO of Moolah Kicks, a pioneering brand exclusively focused on creating basketball shoes for women. Originating from her observation of the lack of female-specific basketball sneakers during her senior year at Boston College, Natalie was propelled by the realization that existing footwear options did not address the unique biomechanical needs of female athletes, thus posing a higher risk of injury. Her vision for Moolah Kicks emerged from a desire to fill this gap, offering shoes designed with a higher arch, slimmer width, and narrower heel, tailored to the anatomical differences of women’s feet. Launched in 2021, Moolah Kicks has swiftly grown, with its products being retailed online and across Dick’s Sporting Goods stores nationwide. Natalie’s background as a lifelong basketball enthusiast and her role as a team manager at Boston College have deeply informed her mission to empower female athletes through specialized footwear, making her an innovator in the athletic apparel industry.
Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:
- [0:28] Introduction to Natalie White, CEO and Founder of Moolah Kicks, and Corinne’s conversation kickoff.
- [4:00] Natalie shares her journey from investment banking to founding Moolah Kicks.
- [10:09] The vision behind Moolah Kicks: addressing the performance needs of female basketball players with shoes made specifically for them.
- [12:55] The social and performance implications of female athletes wearing shoes not designed for their biomechanics.
- [18:08] The role of mentors in Natalie’s journey and the early challenges of starting Moolah Kicks.
- [21:12] Staying motivated through the 18-month shoe development process and the challenges of building from scratch.
- [23:33] Strategies that helped Moolah Kicks gain rapid growth, including community engagement and grassroots marketing efforts.
- [27:52] Fostering a team culture and the deep connection between Moolah Kicks and the women’s basketball community.
- [30:07] Celebrating proud moments like successful deliveries and team achievements, as well as the impact of players choosing Moolah Kicks.
- [34:13] The excitement and pride of seeing a player try out for the LSU women’s basketball team in Moolah Kicks.
- [37:43] Future aspirations for Moolah Kicks and how the brand aims to change the landscape of women’s basketball.
- [40:07] How to support and find Moolah Kicks products in stores and online.
In This Episode…
In a world where female athletes continually push boundaries, how often do we consider the gear that empowers their performance? Is the market meeting their unique needs?
According to Natalie White, a trailblazer in women’s basketball footwear, the market has historically overlooked the unique needs of female athletes, particularly in basketball footwear. She points out that the lack of shoes designed specifically for women has not only been a gap in the market, but also a barrier to performance and safety. Highlighting the importance of footwear that caters to the biomechanical differences of female athletes, Natalie emphasizes that the right shoe can significantly reduce injury risks and enhance on-court performance. This is why she started Moolah Kicks and made it her mission to contribute to the empowerment and success of women in basketball.
In this episode of WRK & WIN, Corinne Milien talks with Natalie White, Founder and CEO of Moolah Kicks, who shares her groundbreaking journey of starting a sports footwear brand. They cover the inspiration behind Moolah Kicks, the challenges faced in a predominantly male industry, and the transformative impact of Moolah Kicks on the women’s basketball community.
Sponsor for this episode…
This episode is brought to you by WRK.
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