Francisco Cardoso is a Senior at the University of California, Santa Barbara currently studying Sociology. Francisco joined Deckers because he was excited to get his foot in the door in the world of marketing and PR.
What inspired you to pursue an opportunity with marketing in footwear?
I was inspired by HOKA ONE ONE’s message and commitment to sharing stories of minority groups that don’t often get portrayed in media.
What would you like to share about your internship experience so far with Deckers on the PLG team?
During my time here so far I have had a great time with the HOKA team. I’ve felt welcomed and able to approach everyone on our team.
Who has been an inspirational leader in your professional life? How have they influenced your career goals, passions and interests?
Martha Garcia in the HOKA team has been an inspiration for me, because of her commitment to giving a voice to minority groups.
For most of my life, I found myself consistently presented with the inevitable question,
“What are you?”
In my younger years, I learned that it was confusing to most that they couldn’t place my identity in one singular box. I struggled with that often and because of that, it was a constant push and pull of attempting to focus on just one half of myself in order to conform. This led to me feeling ashamed of who I was. Was I white? Was I Vietnamese? Can I just be both?
While growing up in the Bay Area, we lived in a predominantly Asian community and it was clear that I didn’t entirely belong. I could tell that my peers felt that they couldn’t connect with me because I didn’t look exactly like them or understand their version of a traditional Asian upbringing. Similarly, when we moved down to the Central Coast years later, I was put in a position of being forced to choose my Asian heritage amongst my white schoolmates because I was different. Once again, it felt as though I was a puzzle piece unsure of where I could fit. It was a never-ending battle of not feeling accepted for both of my heritages that make me whole. It’s this unparalleled understanding of identity that exemplifies the experience of being a biracial individual – incapable of finding a sense of balance between being too much of one race.
It’s taken a lot of self-reflection, cultural understanding, and confidence to realize that I should never feel scared to embrace all parts of who I am, and to never lose sight of what has made me the person I am today. I feel so proud of my family, who were brave enough to travel to America in search of a different life. That alone ignited the fire in me to learn more about Vietnamese culture: the traditions, food, art, language, etc. I also feel so blessed that I’m able to experience American culture and to have opportunities that many people dream of. Being part of the Deckers Brands family has only proven the fact that diversity is an essential part of creating a larger community of acceptance and appreciation. We’re stronger together.
I am honored to take part in Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and no longer do I sit in anticipation wondering when I’ll be asked of my race or how I identify; I encourage it.
Mary is from Louisville Kentucky. She goes to school at the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mary is pursuing a degree in Fashion Design, with a minor in Marketing! Go Bearcats!
What would you like to share about your internship experience so far?
Although my internship was disrupted by COVID-19, I am so grateful to work at such a flexible company that is resilient to change. Going from the office to at home everyday has been as seamless as it possibly could be – and I feel really fortunate to work on a global team that is able to collaborate in the shifting seas of the world right now. I am so lucky to still be able to work and create helpful product for upcoming launches.
What has been your favorite part of living in Santa Barbara as a co-op?
Lets face it – Santa Barbara is breathtaking. I have never had such beauty in my backyard – and I have never been so lucky to have so much to do in nature near by. I love going to the many beaches, as well as taking on every hiking trail possible in the local area. Not to mention the great food, and all of the other sightseeing in towns nearby!
Who has been an inspirational leader in your professional life? How have they influenced your career goals, passions and interests?
I have been super lucky to have great mentors at all of my internships – and especially at Deckers. My supervisor, Amanda Kastelic, has been nothing but kind, helpful, and encouraging during my entire time working for Deckers. She is always there to give insightful feedback, and the amount of knowledge and wisdom she has to offer is immense. It has helped me to reach beyond my normal comfort zone in design, and really feel like I have a place at the table with my full time employee counterparts. She has definitely made me feel like I am really a part of the team, not just a temporary intern.
What are three fun facts you’d like to share?
Santa Barbara is the 6th city I have lived in in the last four years!
I have always wanted to design shoes – and finally was able to do it at Deckers!
California has made me an addict of Acai Bowls and Kombucha.
Growing up as a “third culture kid,” I was born to parents from different countries (China and Korea), spent my childhood in Hong Kong and, very early in life, had a strong anchor in American culture because of the international school that I attended. As a student there from kindergarten to the 12th grade, I was lucky enough to develop a relationship with all cultures but never had full ownership of any.
Hong Kong was home to many expatriates. I was so blessed to have made childhood friends with people from all over the world, but I also experienced the bittersweet goodbyes as they returned to their home country after a few years—which never got any easier for me. Being surrounded by an international group of kids and teachers from the US, I grew up feeling more “American.” That is, until I came to America.
While attending university in Boston, I started asking myself: Who am I? Where do I belong? Do I fit in here? Am I supposed to represent my Asian heritage? I was a little lost and confused. I started having a love-hate relationship with the question: “where are you from?” It wasn’t until I started my career in the footwear industry that I really started embracing my Asian heritage. From KTV to slurping my noodles, I almost even named my dog Tofu.
While working alongside some of the most talented leaders, shoemakers, and factories overseas, I realized why I found so much comfort in the footwear industry. Diversity. Just last week I collaborated with a French Designer, discussed strategy with a Filipino Product Director, had a conference call with Japan, created a global assortment with the Swiss, and worked closely with my all-star American merchandising team. Sixteen years and many shoes later, the diversity I was surrounded by felt familiar—and my experience at Deckers’ is no different. Simply put, Deckers’ hybrid of cultures has made me feel at home again.
If you are reading this and can somewhat relate, just remember that home is not a geographical location. Home is where you are surrounded by friends, loved ones, and good food. While I am not officially an American (yet), I am proud to celebrate the Asian American Heritage month. And, most importantly, my dog is grateful that he wasn’t named after a bean curd.
Justin was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is now a proud student of the University of Cincinnati where he is working toward finishing his degree in Industrial Design through the college of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning.
What would you like to share about your internship experience so far?
With this being the tail-end of my internship, I can easily say that this has been a rewarding and educational experience. My other prior internships were great, but working on the Men’s UGG team has given me many opportunities to take on larger roles designing than any other has. I also love the diversity in experiences and personalities of our team, because it makes the group well rounded.
What has been your favorite part of living in Santa Barbara as a co-op?
My favorite part of Santa Barbara has to be the city being sandwiched between the mountains and beach. Being from southwest Ohio, you have to drive 4+ hours to the Smoky Mountains or further to get real, high elevation and scenic hiking, and it’s at least a 10 hour drive to an ocean. Driving 10 minutes to a mountain trail and 5 to the beach makes me wonder how anyone leaves here.
Who has been an inspirational leader in your professional life? How have they influenced your career goals, passions and interests?
I would say my friend Nick is my most inspirational leader. Granted he’s only a year older than me, but he hustles harder than anyone else I know. He’s constantly pushing himself to get better at his craft (videography), takes every opportunity he sees fit, and knows the value of his work and time. I’m in the process of building my own footwear and apparel brand, and I want my work ethic and level of detail to be like his.
What are three fun facts you’d like to share?
Aside from design, I’m very passionate about sports photography and have poured hundreds of hours into it over the past few years.
I was in a hot wing eating contest with Joey Chestnut, the greatest competitive eater in history.
Final Fun-fact: Reds World Series Champs 2020 and Bengals Superbowl Champs 2020. You read it here first.
“I’ve been living in America for roughly six years now, and have had my own struggles in what it means to be an Asian/Pacific Islander here in America. I’ve lived in the West Coast, traveled through the Midwest, and am now back again living in the West Coast. While I’ve embraced the American culture, I also miss so much of what I believe makes me Filipino. I am blessed and grateful to have a husband that has also embraced my own culture, and is just as enthusiastic whenever we’re able to experience something that reminds me of home. I’m also proud to be a part of the Deckers family for putting its employees first; embracing and celebrating our diversity and backgrounds.
The best and easiest way for me to overcome homesickness and reconnect me back to my roots is cooking Filipino barbecue. Having a family that is a part of the restaurant industry, this became a staple growing up. It’s the first thing I think of when I think of comfort foods from home, and is also one of the first things I made my husband try when he came to visit the Philippines for the first time. Inasal Chicken – roughly translated to Char-grilled Chicken – is a type of barbecue cooking from my Mom’s hometown in the Visayas region. I have very fond memories of travelling there over Summer and Christmas breaks to see our extended family, where Inasal Chicken was always a family staple. To me, it’s always been a taste that feels like home.
I’ve altered the recipe a bit for more readily available ingredients here in the US. This is typically served with a side of garlic fried rice and pickled vegetables of choice.”
PORK BBQ SKEWERS
1-1.5 lbs of Pork Shoulder or Pork Butt, cut into bite-sized cubes
¾ cup of Dark soy sauce
½ cup of Sprite or 7UP
2 Jalapeños roughly chopped with seeds (can add more depending on desired spice level)
1 Lime (juice)
1 head of Garlic roughly chopped
1 Tbsp Pepper
Mix everything and marinate for up to 24 hours. Thread meat into soaked skewer. Discard marinade. Grill – basting every 10 minutes – until cooked.
INASAL CHICKEN (CHAR-GRILLED CHICKEN)
1-in Ginger, roughly chopped
5-6 cloves of Garlic, roughly chopped
1 Lime (juice)
½ cup White Vinegar
½ cup Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Tbsp Pepper
½ Tbsp Salt
Mix everything and marinate for up to 24 hours. Discard marinade. Grill – basting every 10 minutes – until cooked.
BASTE
1-1.5 cups oil
1 head of Garlic roughly chopped
1 Tbsp Pepper
Annatto Seeds (can be substituted for Saffron, or a combination of Ground Turmeric and Ground Paprika)
I grew up in Sunnyvale, California and I am currently enrolled at UC Santa Barbara, pursing a degree in Political Science with a minor in Iranian Studies.I decided to join the Deckers team because of what a staple their products were around campus. More importantly, I valued the idea of interning for a brand that has such a positive and environmentally-friendly reputation. I knew I wanted to get involved with the brand on a deeper level.
What inspired you to pursue an opportunity with product in footwear?
My first interaction with a member of the product team was at my school’s career fair, where I met Julia, the Teva Product Coordinator and previous Product Intern with Teva. She was passionate about her work and was willing to answer any and all of my questions. Since becoming the Teva Product Intern, I have learned that this is the standard for everyone at the office. She talked about how there was a lot of opportunities to make one’s voice heard as a product intern, especially in terms of sustainability, which is something I personally value in a footwear brand. I was excited to take part in something in which I could make that type of a difference.
What would you like to share about your internship experience so far with Deckers on the PLG team?
Being on the product team with Teva has shown me what it is like to see an entire project executed from beginning to end, which is something you don’t get to see in most intern roles. Everyone on the team is incredibly friendly, takes the time to communicate things with me and values my input. There’s so much about the footwear world that I didn’t know before and understanding the hard work that everyone puts into the thought process of getting a shoe into market is something that I will carry into both my professional life and into my shoe shopping experience.
Who has been an inspirational leader in your professional life? How have they influenced your career goals, passions and interests?
My first job was as a camp counselor for a summer camp near my hometown and the director of the camp is one of my greatest professional inspirations. She really represents what it means to be a woman with a seat at the table. She managed the difficult balance between success and likability with grace and she always took the time to talk to the counselors once a week, without fail. Most importantly, she was able to rise up unconventionally in a professional setting which taught me that no one gets to the same place in the same way and the importance of creating opportunities for myself.
What are three fun facts you’d like to share?
1. I am the president of UC Santa Barbara’s Persian Student Group.
2. I have fallen in the fountains of Versailles twice – once in 2015 and once again in 2018.
3. I am currently in the process of learning how to off-road uni-cycle.
I wanted to be a photographer and work on articles for National Geographic magazine. Ever since grade school I have been making, creating, and publishing in collaboration with a team, things like the school newspaper and yearbooks. I went on in my career to join a few great brands where I have produced some great content on some pretty awesome teams – catalogs, videos, photo shoots, creative campaigns, etc.
How do you practice self-love?
Every weekday morning before sunrise I join a workout group at the beach to run or strength train, and often a dip in the ocean. Its an hour of the day that is all about me and a time to appreciate my physical and mental strength/vitality. I also regularly prioritize time to do simple things that bring me joy – either the joy of escape or of being fully present: reading a book, watching a good show or movie, taking care of my house plants & veggie garden, cooking a favorite or new recipe for my family.
2. Wendy Yang
President, Performance Lifestyle Brands
Wendy Yang – President, Performance Lifestyle Brands
How do you empower others around you?
Put people in the right seats, give them the tools they need, and let them do their jobs!
What are your words to live by?
“Leadership is personal, not positional.”
What do you want your legacy to be?
A few things—That I am an honest servant leader who cares sincerely about people, Deckers Women’s Leadership Summit, and PLG to $1B+
3. Ritsuko Linuma
People & Experience Associate, Deckers Japan
Ritsuko Linuma – People & Experience Associate, Deckers Japan
What are some words you live by?
“Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.” and “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”
How do you practice self-love?
Surround myself with people who know how to love, encourage, think and have fun!
A woman who inspires you?
All the women in my family tree who established places where I live now.
4. Deb Parsons
Human Resources Director, EMEA
Deb Parsons – Human Resources Director, EMEA
What are your words to live by?
“Treat everyone with respect and how you would want to be treated.”
How do you challenge stereotypes and misconceptions?
Explain how that message might be received by others.
How do you want to be represented in the workplace?
Daniela grew up in San Francisco, CA and is now at UC Santa Barbara pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies with minors in Portuguese and Writing. She decided to join Deckers after attending a Focus Group for Sanuk. Having always been interested in marketing, the Focus Group exposed Daniela to some of the many things that the Sanuk team does on a day to day basis which she found to be really intriguing so she wanted to get involved.
What inspired you to pursue an opportunity with marketing in footwear?
I wanted to work with the marketing team because I’m fascinated with the idea of building and cultivating a brand. Specifically, I’m interested in digital marketing as it is growing in a unique and multifaceted way these days. As well, I find Sanuk’s branding to be creative and individual. I love the happy-go-lucky and welcoming attitude the team fosters and shares with their audience. I wanted to understand what it takes to make this happen and how I could help this awesome team.
What would you like to share about your internship experience so far with Deckers on the PLG team?
It’s been a great ride so far! Each day I leave the office with new experiences and knowledge under my belt. I’ve begun to understand the ins and outs of the marketing world. What mostly stands out to me is the great people I’ve met on my team and around the office who have made this internship such a great learning experience. Everyone is so friendly and willing to offer a hand whenever necessary.
Who has been an inspirational leader in your professional life? How have they influenced your career goals, passions and interests?
In all honestly, it would have to be my twin sister. Growing up, we’ve had lots of the same interests from sports and friends to academic classes. She is constantly upping the bar with exciting jobs and projects or fascinating new connections and discoveries, and while she might be my best friend, friendly sibling competitiveness never hurt anyone. Hearing her success helps to push me to new boundaries because I realize more and more is possible. I think, it works the same with her. So we are both constantly upping the bar. It’s pretty cool to have someone to both share and celebrate these accomplishments with but who can also push me to reach any goal.
Hope was born and raised in Taiwan, and moved to the U.S. for college. She is currently studying Communication at UC Santa Barbara as a senior. Hope Chen is the Marketing PLG Intern with the Teva team at Deckers!
What inspired you to pursue an opportunity with product in footwear?
Before going to college, I had already decided to pursue my career in apparel or footwear brands. After moving to Goleta, I was surprised that Deckers is so close to the campus, and that they have an internship program! I am also interested in hiking and camping, and I thought working with the PLG team would be something I’d really like, so I decided to give it a try and here I am!
What would you like to share about your internship experience so far with Deckers on the PLG team?
I have been enjoying my time as an Intern at Deckers, because although I am new and just an intern, people treated me as a full time employee. I remember during my onsite interview where I met Emily, the TA Coordinator, she told me small voices can be heard at Deckers. After interning for 2 months, I have to say that is absolutely true! I always get involved in meetings and decision-making processes, and my thoughts and opinions were always taken by the team members. I am also enjoying working on a major project of this internship about social media!
Who has been an inspirational leader in your professional life? How have they influenced your career goals, passions and interests?
During my last summer internship, I worked as a sales Intern at a small start-up company. My supervisor was very knowledgeable, and she shared a lot of her professional experiences with me. She also taught me that an intern could be more than just an intern if you try hard and prove yourself, encouraging me to achieve as many goals as possible. I learned from her that you always need to create opportunity for yourself.
What are three fun facts you’d like to share?
I love baking!
I have a pet Holland Lop and a Shiba Inu.
I’ve never tried avocado before I moved to California, and now I love it so much!
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