These “Stories of purpose and values” shine a light on several of our employees who embody our purpose and values in their everyday actions.
In this collection, we focus on our “Driven to excellence” value. Driven to excellence means we play fair, aim for excellence, and celebrate our wins. It also means we unlock our potential through individual growth, are passionate about performance, dedicated to fair play, and embrace a winning spirit and learn from our mistakes.
Meet Nadine, Sara, and Terence who champion our “Driven to excellence” value.
Nadine Lippa
Manager Research & Development, Team Sports, Wilson, US
Breakthroughs, resilience, and a strong sense of team collaboration define Nadine’s journey towards excellence. Since joining Wilson in 2018, Nadine played a pivotal role in numerous innovative projects, including the groundbreaking Airless Gen1 basketball. As she describes it, the Airless project began as a daring idea—to reimagine how a basketball could be designed and manufactured.
“Instead of trying to make incremental changes toward the next basketball, our team started from scratch with unconventional methods and of making a basketball that produced some crazy-looking samples,” Nadine explains. “We were driven by the idea that we could enhance performance, customization, and sustainability.”
Navigating through countless iterations, each version brought the team closer to a revolutionary result. While the path wasn’t always smooth, Nadine embraced each setback as an opportunity to learn and improve.
For Nadine, the project exemplified Wilson’s culture of “friendly competition”—not against each other but against the problem itself. “No one else was attempting to create something like this, but we believed we could, and that belief was incredibly motivating.”
The result of this drive was a 3D-printed airless basketball that not only pushed boundaries and changed perceptions, but also sparked a broader conversation about what’s possible in product design.
Reflecting on her journey, Nadine states, “Excellence doesn’t always feel like excellence at first—it often feels like just another attempt in a long line of iterations. But every step counts. Keep chipping away, seek feedback, and believe in yourself.”
Sara Klossner
Investor Relations & Market Intelligence Manager, Amer Sports, US
Intrinsic motivation, dedication, and a commitment to constant growth define Sara’s approach to each project she undertakes. Driven by high ambitions, she explains, “I’ve always been led by an inner drive and a desire for meaningful work, even without a set career path—ultimately bringing me to a role where I can combine analytical and creative skills in an industry I am passionate about.”
This instinct for excellence leads her through high-stakes projects, such as supporting Amer Sports’ quarterly earning calls, which demand seamless coordination across finance teams, brands, and leaders.
“Excellence isn’t about doing everything to perfection—it’s about focusing on the highest-impact tasks. I concentrate on the things that matter most, the ones that will create the most value.” To achieve this, thorough preparation is essential. “By understanding our company, our brands, and the intricacies within the organization, as well as the broader market dynamics, I can better identify and prioritize the tasks that will have the greatest impact,” she adds.
This intentional approach allows Sara to direct her time and energy toward delivering high-quality work where it truly counts, helping us communicate our story with clarity and confidence to investors.
Openness to new opportunities and a commitment to continuous learning also characterizes Sara’s approach. Recently, she relocated from Finland to New York for her role, embracing change and growth both personally and professionally.
“Moving to New York is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. I feel incredibly lucky to have the support from Amer Sports to make this transition as smooth as possible.”
Her advice to others? “Be proactive, stay open-minded, seize opportunities and make the most out of them.”
Terence Lo
Sourcing Director, Peak Performance, Hong Kong
With nearly two decades at Peak Performance, Terence is known for his reliability, deep industry expertise, and his drive to build trusted partnerships. Colleagues describe him as someone who “thinks people first.”
“Our team members are our most valuable assets,” explains Terence, who empowers his team through development opportunities and mentorship, ensuring they gain the skills and confidence to excel.
An example of Terence’s mentorship involved guiding a team member without an apparel background to become a key subject-matter expert. With a hands-on approach, he guided the mentee through the intricacies of product knowledge, arranged site visits, and designed a tailored development plan. After recognizing her potential, he nominated her for an exchange program at Peak Performance’s headquarters in Sweden.
“I wanted her to understand not just the technical aspects, but the full picture—from materials to logistics. Supporting her through each step helped her grow quickly and confidently.” Within a year, the mentee had progressed into a team leader role.
Beyond mentorship, Terence cultivates a collaborative learning environment for his team. He organizes regular knowledge-sharing sessions, where team members discuss topics from product innovation to production challenges. “This kind of sharing unlocks potential and builds a collaborative spirit that inspires excellence.”
Reflecting on his journey, Terence describes excellence through his “Four Cs”: Commitment, Continuous Learning, Collaboration, and Celebration. Known for his drive to perform and secure commitments, Terence builds trust by consistently creating results and reinforcing a people-centered approach.
“Excellence is a team effort. Celebrating each success, no matter the size, lifts our spirits and helps us keep moving forward. Just like athletes striving for “Peak Performance” in every event, together we can tap into our collective potential and achieve great success as a team.”
