Welcome to Kelly Corrigan Wonders. I'm Kelly Corrigan, and today I'm wondering what it takes to speak up when everything is on the line.

This is the second episode in our March series called Women of Consequence, made possible by a grant from

Ingeborg Initiatives. We're looking at the ways women navigate and reshape the world. Today I'm

talking with Alison Felix about breaking records, severing ties, and what it means to build a business

on the principle of community over competition, which is interesting because

Alice and Felix is the most decorated American track and field Olympian in history. She has

11 medals. She's also the founder of Seish, a footwear and lifestyle brand, which includes

running shoes built specifically for women's feet, which,

I learned, is surprisingly rare. Many people know Allison's name, not just for her athletic

achievements, but for what happened when she got pregnant while sponsored by Nike. After nearly a

decade with the company, Nike offered her a new contract at 70% less than her

previous salary. When she disclosed her pregnancy, it became clear that she'd faced further

reductions if she didn't perform at the same level upon her return. Allison asked for one thing,

protected time to recover from childbirth without penalties. Nike refused to set that

precedent for all female athletes. So Allison went public with a New York Times op-ed, risking

everything. And three months later, Nike changed its maternity policy. Here is my conversation

with Olympian Allison Felix.

So little Allison Felix in South L.A. is watching the Olympics on television in 1996,

and you see some gymnast. Take us to that moment.

Yes, I see Dominique Dawes, and she just fascinates me, just blows me away. I see her competing,

and, you know, she looks like me, and I just relate to her. I don't know. I was just

drawn to what she was doing. I had no idea that I would be an athlete or anything of that nature.

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