GAME-CHANGING INNOVATION STARTS WITH A WORLD CLASS TEAM
A Nike Alumni Founded Think Tank and Talent Powerhouse
Our Mission
We unlock the potential of mission-driven brands and organizations to scale with strategy and deliver lasting impact—with speed and clarity. Our expertise, global network, and commitment to bridging profit and purpose transforms businesses into forces for good.
Our Story
We are leaders, innovators, creators and doers with a shared experience of working for one of the most iconic global brands in the world. We leverage our collective Nike alumni expertise and our work with other global brands and organizations to curate a roster of experts for high-impact projects.
What We Do & Where We Play
6453 Forward is a multi-disciplinary consultancy and talent marketplace of world-class experts. We were founded to offer a powerhouse network of Nike alumni who bring deep expertise across the full product and process lifecycle. We operate in the space between traditional consultancies and creative brand studios, offering end-to-end expertise and execution across these capabilities:
- Direct Consultancy – competing with the big firms
- Talent Community – vetted subject matter experts
- Nike-honed expertise across the following capabilities:
- Brand Management & Marketing
- Product & Merchandising Strategy
- Organizational Strategy & People
- Operational Optimization
- Innovation Mindset & Process
OUR TEAM
Jana Panfilio
Stephanie Vardavas
Jana Panfilio
Consumer Insights
& Creative Production
Deep consumer insights expertise, communications, and creative execution across mediums and platforms.
Grant Barth
Stephanie Vardavas
Jana Panfilio
Brand Marketing
& Strategy
30+ years across brand leadership, experiential merchandising, concept development and execution.
Stephanie Vardavas
Stephanie Vardavas
Stephanie Vardavas
Legal &
Governance
Deep knowledge and expertise across brand, consumer, sport, intellectual property, safety compliance and ethics.
Mike McBreen
Stephanie Vardavas
Stephanie Vardavas
Logistics &
Supply Chain Strategy
30+ years operational leadership across industries to optimize speed to market, sustained growth, and positive change.
Rachel Ingel-Champion
Rachel Ingel-Champion
Rachel Ingel-Champion
Organization
& People Strategy
Organizational psychologist with 20 years developing and scaling organization effectiveness and people strategies.
Jerris Marr
Rachel Ingel-Champion
Rachel Ingel-Champion
Organization Operations
& Enterprise Technology
Proven leadership in organizational change by focusing on advancing teams to achieve strategic goals and sustained success,
Julie Brink
Rachel Ingel-Champion
Julie Brink
Operations &
Program Management
Business operations leader driving efficiencies for maximum impact through high-performing, engaged teams.