Ellen Schmidt-Devlin, PhD

Dr. Ellen Schmidt-Devlin has over 25 years of experience at Nike in leadership positions in the US and Asia. She directed teams in Beaverton, Oregon; Exeter, New Hampshire; Hong Kong; Tokyo, Japan; Bangkok,Thailand and Pusan, Korea.

Ellen co-founded and taught in the Master of Science, Sports Product Management programs at the University of Oregon in Portland. She worked with sport and outdoor brands such as adidas, ANTA, Li-Ning, Under Armour, Columbia Sportswear, Lululemon and manufacturers including Ching Lui, NTX, Luen Thai and many others.

Dr. Schmidt-Devlin has a MBA from the University of Oregon and a PhD in Designing Sustainable Solutions from Case Western Reserve University. Her research in the Global and Local Branding is published in academic journals. She is currently working on a book with Darcy S. Winslow named "The Women Who Shaped Nike," which is scheduled for release in 2026.

Expert Consulting Services

Transform your business with strategic planning, education, advisory services tailored for your brand and business growth.

Strategic Brand Planning

ESD Strategic Planning starts the process by listening to what you need to develop your business. From start ups to scale ups, our expertise includes building strategies for product, marketing, supply chain and your entire business. The goal is to address your needs while allowing your brand and business to thrive. Our expertise is making your brand more global, innovative and sustainable.

Educating Your Workforce

ESD Education specializes in leadership development and has the experience to teach the entire product creation process. Classes include consumer insights, design thinking, product management, innovation, development, design, marketing and supply chain. Empower your team with innovative education for global and sustainable business practices.

ESD Advisory can assist start ups and scale up companies with Board Advisory services. We have experience in global and local footwear and apparel businesses and we offer experts to serve on Advisory Board. This will build connections and strength which offer a long-term advantage to your brand and business.

Board Advisory

Current Projects

Global Footwear and Apparel Traceability Summit Series

Working with Syracuse University and the University of Oregon, we are building a system to address the traceability of footwear and apparel products across the supply chain.

Currently working with Aedelhard, a start-up rugby company advising Martin Hunter, CEO as well as serving on the Aedelhard Advisory Board.

Dr. Schmidt-Devlin will be a fellow at Yale University from January-June 2025. She will participate in the inaugural class of the Experienced Leaders Program at the Yale School of Management.

Board Advisory

Yale Experienced Leaders Initiative Fellow

Client Feedback

Discover how ESD Services transformed businesses and elevated potential.

It was a pleasure to work with a super serious person, who conveys complete confidence in her decisions and her experience in the product and development area is evident. I would be a part of Ellen's team on any project!! Her technical knowledge in the footwear industry is extraordinary.

Miguel Oliveira Oliveira

Porto, Portugal

There are two types of people in this world; those who can keep up with Ellen's incredible pace and everyone else. Sincere, genuine, and always going the extra mile to ensure things work out for all parties, she embodies a true believer in the power of a win-win.

Jeffrey Hsu

CEO/President

★★★★★

★★★★★

V10

Taipei, Taiwan