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Michael Jackson made the Moonwalk famous. Bill McInnis designs and tests sports shoes that’ll almost convince you that you are sprinting on the moon. His children (10 and 12 years old) think his job is really cool... but his parents think it is ridiculous. They simply can’t believe that he gets paid to do what he does.
As managing director of advanced research and development product marketing for the Reebok brand, McInnis is responsible for the creation and positioning of technology with a focus on consumer benefit, function and price. He also oversees the development and launch of new technologically advanced products.
Prior to joining the company, he spent four years working with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on the space shuttle programme where he managed engineering integration of the space shuttle, satellites and solid rocket boosters.
So, why did he decide to become a shoe technologist? “I had been working in the aerospace industry as an engineer on the space shuttle programme in the early ’90s. Some of the engineers from the original Apollo missions were still around the programme at that time and even after 30 years they were still fascinated and passionate about even the smallest details. I resolved to find something that I could be that passionate about and for me it happened to be athletic shoes (also, while far from being a professional, I was an athlete growing up),” he says.
Things did not end there. Though he was BS in mechanical engineering from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, McInnis went 
back to graduate school at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to do an MBA and while there worked on a project with a small athletic shoe company. “Those contacts led to an interview at Reebok. I wish I could say Reebok welcomed me with open arms but it took over a year and multiple interviews before I was hired,” he says
What is his job like? No two days are similar for McInnis. His job involves spending a lot of time with designers and engineers, reviewing product designs and testing results. He also does a lot of research outside the footwear industry in generating new concepts. His latest product ZigTech was partially inspired by a Slinky toy. “My particular role extends into explaining our latest innovations to our sales groups and accounts, as well as briefings with marketing and our advertising agency. We also have a great headquarters campus here in Massachusetts in which I can personally test prototype products in our gymnasium. I try to get out at least a few times a week with our newest prototypes,” he says.
What does it take to become a shoe technologist? First, a strong passion for sports in general and athletic shoes in particular is most important. Being able to identify opportunities (and these often come disguised as problems) is equally important. Finally, being a good problem solver (engineering method helps here) counts because your first solution is rarely the correct one. There’s a lot of trial and error in getting to a final product so being a little stubborn is a good thing, he adds.
Finally, what is the rewarding thing about his job? There are a lot of ideas that get proposed for new concepts and they can come from anywhere in the company. In fact, from many ideas come a few good ones. “When a concept that you created survives the long design and development process (can be up to 24 months from idea to in-store) and becomes a hit in the market it’s very rewarding. The way the whole company comes together as a team when we launch a product is also a great feeling. You really feel part of something,” he adds with a smile. Surely, that’s the foot soldier talking.
Author: Vandana Ramani
Date: 21st April, 2010
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