FFANY President Sandi Mines Reflects on Women’s Progress in the Footwear Industry: Women in Power
After almost 20 years as publisher at Footwear News, Sandi Mines has seen how far women have come in this industry.
“We’re in a much different place,” she said. “There are hundreds of amazing women in leadership positions, and I think that will continue to grow.”
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Is fashion and footwear doing enough? Mines said the business is still evolving. “What else can we do for women to make sure that they feel good in those positions, that they’re empowered? Allow them to take risks and have an opinion. Make space for new ideas, new ways of thinking, and help support that,” she said.
As VP of corporate engagement at the FDRA and president of FFANY, Mines is continuously working to advocate for new members and those new to the footwear industry. “The number one thing that we do is encourage people to reach out and figure out ways that our team can support and grow their business,” she said.
Mines is also the president of the Fashion Footwear Charity Foundation, which is a non-profit working to transform the shoe industry’s donations of footwear into dollars that fund groundbreaking first-step breast cancer research at leading organizations in the U.S.
“This organization really pushes all of us. All of the work that we’re doing is supporting women. I don’t know a more empowering thing to do for women than lead a charity for breast cancer research,” she said. “It’s been really rewarding to work with these women of different backgrounds from different companies, and pull something phenomenal together.”
The non-profit’s fundraising event Shoes for a Cure has raised $60 million over the past 30 years for the cause.
A version of this article appeared in the Feb. 3 print issue of FN, as part of the “Women Who Rock” special section. On Feb. 4, FN and Two Ten Footwear Foundation will honor these women at the annual live event in New York City.
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