Through her work on Innovation for Impact, SharkNinja’s signature philanthropy program, including the inaugural SharkNinja Innovation Challenge, Nydia is focused on empowering and spotlighting the next generation of innovators.
Meet Nydia!
Meet Nydia Clifton, a recent UNC-Chapel Hill graduate from Orlando, Florida, who brings a sharp communications lens and global perspective to SharkNinja. With a dual degree in Media and Journalism, focused on Advertising and Public Relations, and Contemporary European Studies, Nydia joined the Corporate Communications team in September. Since day one, she has embraced the fast pace, collaborative energy, and learning opportunities that make the experience truly exciting.
Outrageously Extraordinary in Action
When Nydia joined SharkNinja’s Corporate Communications team, she quickly became involved in supporting Innovation for Impact, SharkNinja’s philanthropic program designed to empower the next generation of innovators. Through partnerships with organizations including the National Society of Black Engineers Boston, MassChallenge, The Possible Zone, and the Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair, Nydia helps plan and execute events and supports post event communications that highlight both the impact of the work and the people behind it. Her role helps ensure SharkNinja’s commitment to innovation shows up meaningfully within the communities it serves.
As a recent college graduate, Nydia was the perfect person to support the SharkNinja Innovation Challenge, our first-ever nationwide competition for university student innovators and early career entrepreneurs to pitch their bold ideas. Nydia saw a unique opportunity to promote the competition to students through Instagram and TikTok content – meeting students where they’re spending the bulk of their time on social – and she engaged university leaders through direct outreach to ensure students and school administrators alike were aware of the opportunity. The result? Students from across the country, from USC to NYU and beyond eagerly applied with compelling solutions to real-world consumer problems. Since the call for submissions in September, Nydia has instrumental in the program, diligently reviewing submissions, working with MassChallenge to craft content and compelling stories, and is now focused on storytelling leading into the finale event in March where SharkNinja will crown winners.
Hear from Nydia
What does it mean to be Outrageously Extraordinary?
As a co-op on the Corporate Communications team, being Outrageously Extraordinary means having a growth mindset. Being willing to show up to work every day with a drive to learn quickly and an openness to adapt to contribute to my team’s success, to add value while I’m still in the early stages of my career.
True Edge is described as “a key principle of the OE mindset, combining vigilance, innovative insight, and strategic solutions to create a competitive advantage that is exceptionally hard to replicate.” What is your True Edge, or what are you working to build?
My true edge is twofold. First, I’m building foundational skills and gathering insights to deepen my understanding of global corporate communications, preparing myself for future success in my career. Second, we are developing a global philanthropy program, Innovation for Impact, to nurture the next generation of innovators. My role includes creating communications for this program, writing articles and social media posts, taking photos and videos at events, and sharing them internally and externally with our audiences.
Can you share examples of how you live “OE”?
I live “OE” by thinking about the impact my work has on others and by staying curious. My focus is on building strong structures, telling stories, and highlighting the impact of our team members’ work on others, showing our audience that they are the absolute best at everything they do. By remaining curious and intentional in my efforts, I aim to keep adding value while I continue learning.
What makes working at SharkNinja special?
What makes working at SharkNinja so special is definitely the people. Since I’m only a few months into my co-op experience, I’m learning how to succeed at SharkNinja, and everyone has been so motivating in helping me grow and learn more about the work I’m doing. Also, when I share my own ideas and thoughts with my team, I love how they jump in with ideas and ways to grow them, and how they genuinely want to see me succeed. That’s so encouraging. I’m super excited to continue being challenged and learning from my amazing team and other team members here at SharkNinja.
Please join us in congratulating Nydia for being this week's True Edge Tuesday!
About True Edge Tuesday
At SharkNinja, we strive for the outrageously extraordinary in everything we do, driven by our True Edge – the super skills that set us apart. This cornerstone of the outrageously extraordinary (OE) mindset harnesses innovative insight and strategic solutions to create a competitive advantage, empowering us to positively impact people’s lives every day.
True Edge Tuesday celebrates team members who go above and beyond, showcasing what it means to reject the status quo and embrace the extraordinary.