By [Your Publication Name] National Desk
In an era where the footwear industry faces rapid digital transformation, shifting consumer behaviors, and a complex global supply chain, the human element remains its most vital asset. Recognizing this, the Two Ten Footwear Foundation—the industry’s primary charitable organization—has announced the launch of a robust new mentorship program slated for early 2025. This initiative represents a significant expansion of the foundation’s mission, moving beyond its traditional role as a financial safety net to become a proactive engine for professional development and industry-wide connectivity.
Developed in strategic partnership with CoLabL, a leading career coaching and mentorship consultancy, the program is designed to cultivate the next generation of footwear leaders. By pairing seasoned executives with emerging talent, the foundation aims to ensure that the institutional knowledge of the "old guard" is successfully passed down, while providing younger professionals with the tools necessary to navigate an increasingly volatile retail landscape.
Main Facts: A New Chapter in Industry Professionalism
The upcoming mentorship program is structured as a three-month intensive experience, specifically tailored to the unique rhythms of the footwear business. Unlike previous iterations that were segmented by demographic or specific job functions, this new initiative is notable for its inclusivity. It is open to all industry professionals, regardless of their specific sector—ranging from design and manufacturing to retail, logistics, and marketing.
Partnership with CoLabL
The collaboration with CoLabL is a cornerstone of the program’s design. CoLabL brings a data-driven approach to mentorship, utilizing specialized frameworks to ensure that matches between mentors and mentees are based on compatible goals, skill sets, and professional aspirations. This move signals Two Ten’s commitment to providing a high-quality, structured experience rather than an informal networking opportunity.
Program Structure and Objectives
The program is built around three primary pillars:
- Perspective Gain: Mentees will have direct access to the "C-suite" and senior management perspectives that are often inaccessible in daily corporate hierarchies.
- Goal-Oriented Growth: Participants will work toward specific, measurable career objectives during the 90-day window.
- Leadership Reciprocity: Mentors are not merely "giving back"; they are offered a platform to sharpen their own coaching and empathetic leadership skills, which are increasingly vital in managing modern, diverse workforces.
Applications for the inaugural cohort are currently being accepted through December 23, 2024. Following a rigorous vetting and matching process, the program will officially run from February through April 2025.
Chronology: From Crisis Relief to Career Cultivation
The Two Ten Footwear Foundation has a storied history dating back to the Great Depression, when it was founded to help shoe workers in times of desperate need. Over the decades, its role has evolved, but the focus on "people helping people" has remained constant.
The WIFI Era (2010s–2020)
For many years, mentorship within the foundation was primarily housed under the Women in the Footwear Industry (WIFI) community. This program was instrumental in supporting female professionals in a traditionally male-dominated executive landscape. However, as the industry faced the unprecedented disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WIFI mentorship program was suspended in 2020. The foundation shifted its resources almost entirely to emergency financial relief for workers displaced by store closures and supply chain collapses.
The 2024 Resurgence
As the industry stabilized in the post-pandemic era, leadership at Two Ten identified a growing "connection gap." The rise of remote work and the rapid turnover in retail staff had weakened the informal mentorship networks that used to thrive in office hallways and at trade shows like FFANY or FN Platform.
In mid-2024, the foundation began laying the groundwork for a return to mentorship, but with a broader mandate. The decision was made to retire the segmented approach in favor of a unified program that reflects the modern, diverse, and interconnected nature of the global footwear business.
Supporting Data: Financial Health and Community Momentum
The launch of the mentorship program is backed by a period of strong financial performance and community engagement for the foundation. In June 2024, Two Ten held its annual gala, a cornerstone event for the industry’s social and philanthropic calendar.
Fundraising Success
The June gala was a resounding success, raising nearly $650,000. These funds are earmarked for Two Ten’s dual mission:
- Emergency Relief: Providing direct financial assistance to footwear employees facing crises such as natural disasters, health emergencies, or sudden job loss.
- Education and Growth: Funding scholarships and now, the 2025 mentorship program.
Recognizing Excellence
The momentum for the new program was further bolstered by the recognition of industry titans whose careers exemplify the value of long-term professional development. At the June gala, Two Ten honored two pivotal figures:
- Tacey Powers: The Executive Vice President and General Merchandise Manager of shoes, accessories, home, and kids at Nordstrom. Powers received the 2024 WIFI Impact Award, recognizing her role as a trailblazer for women in retail leadership.
- Mark Lardie: The former President and CEO of Rack Room Shoes. Lardie was presented with the A.A. Bloom Memorial Award, honoring his three decades of service to both the industry and the foundation.
The careers of Powers and Lardie serve as the "proof of concept" for the mentorship program; both leaders have frequently cited the importance of the relationships they built early in their careers as the foundation of their eventual success.
Official Responses: Leadership’s Vision for a Unified Community
Shawn Osborne, President and CEO of the Two Ten Footwear Foundation, has been the driving force behind the program’s revitalization. In a statement released Wednesday, Osborne emphasized that the mentorship program is a direct response to feedback from the foundation’s constituents.
“We have long heard from our community that they want ways to make deeper connections and build relationships within the industry,” Osborne stated. “This initiative taps into footwear’s most valuable resource: its people. By bringing individuals together for shared moments of learning and growth, we hope to open doors for new career pathways and create a stronger, more unified footwear community.”
Osborne’s vision highlights a shift in how the foundation views its "impact." While financial grants provide immediate relief, mentorship provides long-term resilience. By investing in the human capital of the industry, Two Ten is effectively "future-proofing" the workforce.
Industry analysts suggest that Osborne’s focus on a "unified community" is particularly timely. As the footwear world grapples with the transition to sustainable manufacturing and the integration of AI in design, the need for cross-generational dialogue has never been more urgent.
Implications: Strengthening the Industry’s Social Fabric
The reintroduction of a formal mentorship program under the Two Ten banner carries several long-term implications for the footwear sector.
1. Talent Retention and Recruitment
The footwear industry often competes with big tech and general apparel for top-tier talent. By offering a structured path for career advancement and high-level networking, the industry becomes more attractive to Gen Z and Millennial professionals who prioritize professional development and "purpose-driven" work environments.
2. Breaking Down Silos
Historically, the footwear industry has operated in silos—designers rarely spoke to warehouse managers, and wholesale reps rarely interacted with retail floor leads. The Two Ten program aims to break these barriers. A mentee from a logistics background might be paired with a mentor from a creative department, fostering a more holistic understanding of the business.
3. Institutional Continuity
As a generation of legendary shoe dogs and retail icons nears retirement, there is a palpable risk of losing decades of "soft skills" and industry intuition. This program provides a formal pipeline for that knowledge transfer, ensuring that the nuances of shoemaking and the art of the "retail sell" are not lost to time.
4. Diversity and Inclusion
While the program is open to all, its structured nature provides a level playing field for underrepresented groups who may not have access to informal "old boy" networks. By utilizing CoLabL’s matching algorithms, the foundation can ensure that mentorship is accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or current standing in the corporate hierarchy.
Looking Ahead: The 2025 Rollout
As the December 23 application deadline approaches, the industry is watching closely. The success of the February-to-April cohort will likely determine the scale of the program in future years. For an industry built on the literal foundation of movement, the Two Ten Footwear Foundation is making it clear that the most important steps are the ones taken together.
The foundation encourages all eligible professionals—from those just starting their journey in a stockroom to those steering global brands—to participate. In the words of Shawn Osborne, the goal is simple yet profound: to ensure that the footwear industry remains not just a place of business, but a community of shared growth.
