Empathy Drives Innovation | Nike Designer Aaron Cooper on Success
01/10/24 • 61 min
"The day you start worrying about the business is the day you should start worrying about the business. Focus on serving the population you're trying to help, and the rest will come. If you truly connect with them at an emotional level, they're going to buy whatever you're selling." - Aaron Cooper
I sat down with Aaron Cooper, former Nike designer of 25 years, and what emerged was a masterclass in human-centered innovation. His philosophy struck me deeply – that empathy isn't just a business strategy, it's the foundation of everything meaningful. Aaron shared his unique "sponges, dominoes, and butterflies" approach that transformed how I see both creativity and impact. What if the smallest connections we make today could truly change the trajectory of someone's life? This conversation isn't just about designing iconic sneakers for legends like Serena Williams and LeBron James – it's about a whole new paradigm for success that honors both strategic excellence and intuitive wisdom.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to Aaron Cooper and His Philosophy
04:27 From Preacher's Son to Nike's First Design Intern
08:43 Finding Your North Star and Mount Everest
12:45 Building Empathy with Athletes Like Serena Williams
17:11 When Companies Serve Wall Street vs. Serving People
18:00 How to Cultivate Deep Empathy in Business
22:00 The Secret Formula: People + Product = Success
25:50 Why Play and Creativity Drive Business Innovation
28:30 The Lost Art of Play in American Sports Culture
39:26 Sponges, Dominoes, and Butterflies Life Philosophy
43:43 Pursuing Purpose Beyond Financial Success
51:50 Advice to His Younger Self: Enjoy the Moment
54:10 The Importance of Embracing Diversity in Innovation
57:56 Surround Yourself With People You Want to Become
ABOUT AARON COOPER
Aaron Cooper spent 25 years as a Nike designer creating iconic footwear for global athletes including Serena Williams, LeBron James, Scottie Pippen, and Kevin Garnett. His empathetic, intuitive approach comes from a diverse upbringing as the son of a preacher and social activist. Now consulting worldwide through his company Moonshot Molecules, Aaron helps clients create products that connect emotionally while solving real problems. His philosophy centers on one word: empathy. Aaron believes elite athletes aren't one IN a million, they're one OF a million – allowing him to design products that serve both professionals and everyday athletes through deep understanding of human needs.
RESOURCES
Recommended Book: "Shoe Dog" by Phil Knight
Connect with Aaron: @aaron.ac.cooper on Instagram
Support the show with your donation: https://www.support/thewholeshebangpodcast
SUBSCRIBE and WATCH on YouTube
"The day you start worrying about the business is the day you should start worrying about the business. Focus on serving the population you're trying to help, and the rest will come. If you truly connect with them at an emotional level, they're going to buy whatever you're selling." - Aaron Cooper
I sat down with Aaron Cooper, former Nike designer of 25 years, and what emerged was a masterclass in human-centered innovation. His philosophy struck me deeply – that empathy isn't just a business strategy, it's the foundation of everything meaningful. Aaron shared his unique "sponges, dominoes, and butterflies" approach that transformed how I see both creativity and impact. What if the smallest connections we make today could truly change the trajectory of someone's life? This conversation isn't just about designing iconic sneakers for legends like Serena Williams and LeBron James – it's about a whole new paradigm for success that honors both strategic excellence and intuitive wisdom.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to Aaron Cooper and His Philosophy
04:27 From Preacher's Son to Nike's First Design Intern
08:43 Finding Your North Star and Mount Everest
12:45 Building Empathy with Athletes Like Serena Williams
17:11 When Companies Serve Wall Street vs. Serving People
18:00 How to Cultivate Deep Empathy in Business
22:00 The Secret Formula: People + Product = Success
25:50 Why Play and Creativity Drive Business Innovation
28:30 The Lost Art of Play in American Sports Culture
39:26 Sponges, Dominoes, and Butterflies Life Philosophy
43:43 Pursuing Purpose Beyond Financial Success
51:50 Advice to His Younger Self: Enjoy the Moment
54:10 The Importance of Embracing Diversity in Innovation
57:56 Surround Yourself With People You Want to Become
ABOUT AARON COOPER
Aaron Cooper spent 25 years as a Nike designer creating iconic footwear for global athletes including Serena Williams, LeBron James, Scottie Pippen, and Kevin Garnett. His empathetic, intuitive approach comes from a diverse upbringing as the son of a preacher and social activist. Now consulting worldwide through his company Moonshot Molecules, Aaron helps clients create products that connect emotionally while solving real problems. His philosophy centers on one word: empathy. Aaron believes elite athletes aren't one IN a million, they're one OF a million – allowing him to design products that serve both professionals and everyday athletes through deep understanding of human needs.
RESOURCES
Recommended Book: "Shoe Dog" by Phil Knight
Connect with Aaron: @aaron.ac.cooper on Instagram
Support the show with your donation: https://www.support/thewholeshebangpodcast
SUBSCRIBE and WATCH on YouTube
Previous Episode
Sensuality Coach Reveals How to Free Your Wild | Madden Zappa
"There is something wild inside each and every single one of us, but there are lots of things that work against us to keep that wild in and keep something tame. But once you start to work through what that actually is and you realize that it has nothing to do with you, that you can let some of those chains go and there's a lot of freedom when you allow yourself to live your wild." - Madden Zappa
I've been saying for 15 episodes that we'd dive into the bedroom, and today we finally do! This conversation with sensuality coach Madden Zappa is a delicious exploration of what happens when we reconnect with our bodies after years of disconnection. It's that classic feeling of not knowing what music you like or how you prefer your eggs (yes, Runaway Bride vibes). I've been there too - stepping into my body's wisdom became a pathway back to myself, and today's episode gives you the roadmap to do the same. Whether you're navigating dating dynamics or deepening an existing relationship, this conversation brings together strategic knowledge about feminine energy with the intuitive wisdom of embodiment. Ready to let your wild free?
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Something Wild Inside Each Of Us
03:13 - Madden's Journey From Yoga to Sensuality Coaching
08:38 - Reconnecting With Your Body When You're Out Of Touch
14:27 - Breaking Free From Society's Constraints On Femininity
21:29 - What It Truly Means To "Live Your Wild"
25:35 - How Boudoir Photography Unlocked Feminine Freedom
32:58 - Masculine/Feminine Dynamics In Dating And Relationships
37:38 - The Art Of Attracting vs. Chasing In Dating
43:18 - Surrendering In The Bedroom: Beyond BDSM
50:26 - The Practice Of Pleasure As A Pathway To Living
53:56 - Seasons Of Life And Embracing Where You Are
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ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Madden Zappa is a feminine and sensuality coach supporting professional women to reclaim their confidence and power to attract the relationships they crave. With a background in yoga instruction, mental health, and NLP, Madden brings a holistic approach to helping women reconnect with their bodies and embrace their sensuality. Her journey of exploring feminine energy began after experiencing her own disconnection, and she now guides others through the same transformative path using embodiment practices, energy work, and conscious relationship principles.
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Connect with Madden:Instagram: @maddenzappa
Support the show with your donation: https://www.support/thewholeshebangpodcast
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Next Episode
Dying to Smallness: Finding Your Creative Magic | Sarah Bonneville
"I feel so obsessed with asking everybody that I ever talk to about what do you create? What are you creating? Everybody has the creator. You're the creator, I'm the creator. Not everybody feels that they identify with the word artist, but there is creation, there is creator... what I feel very focused on is locating what that is in people." - Sarah Bonneville
I sat down with a true gem of a human today - Sarah Bonneville - who embodies what it means to live an unapologetically authentic life. What struck me most about our conversation was how Sarah has embraced the uncomfortable process of transformation, dying daily to smallness and asking herself "how big can I get?" Her journey from quiet child to multi-dimensional creator feels like a masterclass in following your unique path. In this episode, Sarah opens up about creating her first album, carrying a funeral flag as a reminder of impermanence, and why she believes the world desperately needs your creative expression. This conversation sparked something deep in me about our collective awakening to the creator energy within each of us - I think you'll feel it too.
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
04:06 Sarah's Heart on Her Face: Authentic Self-Expression
08:18 Standing on the Precipice of Great Change
12:40 Upbringing: The Gift of Unconditional Love
17:35 From Quiet Child to Expressive Creator
24:45 The Chrysalis: Embracing Transformation
30:30 Dying Daily to Smallness: The Funeral Flag Story
38:53 The Power of Being Witnessed in Your Pain
42:15 Creating an Album: The Thailand Music Portal
45:46 "We Need Your Art": Finding the Creator Within
48:40 Living Magically: Participating in Your Evolution
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Sarah Bonneville is a 5'11" modern mystical artist and businesswoman who enjoys deadlifting, skipping, a strong single-origin espresso, and feeling deeply. As an up-and-coming music maker and producer, she works diligently in her music portal studio, coaxing out stories that ask to be told through her. Bonneville released her first musical body of work, EP1, in April 2023, with Minnesota local radio station 89.3 The Current featuring her as one of their 10 Minnesota-based artists in their monthly scouting report. While Sarah has more music releases planned, she's primarily focused on living in the flow state and leading a really cool, high-quality, inspirational life.
DOWNLOAD Jen's Top 25 Books https://thewholeshebang.myflodesk.com/mytop25books
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RESOURCES
Listen to Sarah's music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0pcTLkZ6BgYkO5xwgRLQEA?si=6edK2XGtQwGG6OZ5nlS8lg
Connect with Sarah:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xoxosabo/
Website: https://www.sarahbonneville.com/
Connect with Sarah:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xoxosabo/Website: https://www.sarahbonneville.com/
Support the show with your donation: https://www.support/thewholeshebangpodcast
SUBSCRIBE and WATCH on YouTube
The Whole Shebang - Empathy Drives Innovation | Nike Designer Aaron Cooper on Success
Transcript
Speaker 1: 0:00
If you believe in your sport and in your endeavor, that the milliseconds matter which most of them do and the fractions of percentages small things do matter. Don't get hung up on them, but acknowledge that the scientists believe that the butterflies that flap their wings in South America eventually create the weather patterns that we've had here in North America. All of that together soaking things all up around you and then laying those dominoes down an
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