How Nikki Neuburger’s experiences as a student-athlete set her up for a lifetime of leadership

Nikki Neuburger, ’04, took what she learned as an Oregon State student-athlete to thrive in leadership roles for some of the largest and most popular companies in the world. The chief brand officer at lululemon and former marketing lead for Nike and Uber Eats got her leadership start as captain of the volleyball team, balancing practices and games with her studies in the OSU College of Business – while earning Pac-10 all-conference and all-academic honors.

Learn about the skills she developed as a student-athlete that formed the building blocks of a successful and impactful career.

“Athletics are a rallying point for Oregon State and are at the core part of our community. Sports provide everyone, no matter where you are in the university ecosystem, a chance to be dam proud – to come together, share stories, have a good time, reconnect and support student-athletes and the university at large.”

Interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence

As a student-athlete, and especially as a captain, Neuburger had to learn how to speak to teammates in their own languages to motivate them to perform their best. “After losing a point, one person might positively respond to a kick in the butt while another person needs a pat on the back. The objective is the same, but you have to deeply understand your teammates or colleagues, how they internalize information and what motivates them.”

Time management and discipline

Before earning an athletic scholarship, Neuburger worked a part-time job while playing volleyball and taking a full class load. This juggling act made her highly productive and skilled at prioritizing what was most important. Neuburger remembers being envious of classmates who didn’t have as many responsibilities to balance – a feeling that faded when she transitioned into the workforce without a hitch.

Working toward a shared goal

“If you’ve been on a sports team, you have a tremendous amount of experience with co-creating a vision and influencing a group of diverse individuals to work toward that unified goal. In volleyball, everybody plays a different position and they are counted on to contribute in a different way to win the point, and the game. It is powerful to know how your part impacts the whole.”

Ability to handle pressure

Student-athletes are regularly put in highly stressful positions – in packed stadiums with the clock running out, or match point on the line – where they need to perform their best. To Neuburger, this is a litmus test for their capacity to thrive in high-stakes, fast-paced work environments, and one of the reasons that she values former student-athletes when hiring employees.

Neuburger points out that there’s a correlation between athleticism and future success: 94% of C-suite women are former athletes. She hopes that athletic programs continue to thrive on college campuses and looks forward to seeing the next generation of student-athletes rise as leaders in the workplace. For this reason, she supports OSU Athletics as a donor and volunteers her time as an OSU Foundation Trustee.

“Athletics are a rallying point for Oregon State and are at the core part of our community,” she says. “Sports provide everyone, no matter where you are in the university ecosystem, a chance to be dam proud – to come together, share stories, have a good time, reconnect and support student-athletes and the university at large.”

To show your support to student-athletes and ensure they have continued opportunities for holistic development during this uncertain time of conference realignment, make a gift to the OSU Athletics Fund for Excellence.