At Brooks Running’s global headquarters in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood, Melanie Allen has what the kids call “street cred.”
Though serving as the Berkshire Hathaway-owned brand’s chief marketing officer for the past eight years, a role that would seemingly distance her from the company’s most intense shoe geek banter, Allen can talk the talk about novel foams, unique geometries or advanced manufacturing processes.In fact, Allen’s scientifically astute mind, sharpened during her years as an MSU mechanical engineering student, has helped propel Brooks’ global rise.
“By understanding what makes our performance running footwear unique from a science and technology perspective, I’m able to then communicate that to consumers in a compelling way,” Allen said.
Read more about first-generation alumna Melanie Allen and how her Spartan engineering background has shaped the way she leads innovation and storytelling at Brooks Running.
Original Story by Daniel P. Smith was published in the Spring 2025, Spartan Magazine.
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