Getting to know Jourdan Banks, Head of HR- EMEA

Tell us about your path to joining UA. What brought you here initially?   

Sports! My family’s logo should be a basketball. My brother and I played through college, my dad and brother are coaches and trainers, and my mom manages their basketball business. It’s been a fun journey to get back to sports after college. I was about to switch career tracks into the DE&I space at the height of 2020 when I got the call from Under Armour. It was a no brainer for me, and I was so excited to start that I agreed for my first day to be the week of Christmas – ha! 

What has your career progression at UA looked like, and what is your role today? 

I started as a Sr. Lead, HR supporting Technology and onboarded our CTO at the height of the digital craze. The market was crazy for digital talent and I loved building and learning through this time with my Tech and EDM partners.  

I then took on the role of Director, HR for the Product team. I supported every element of the Product creation process – from Design, Development, Innovation, Planning to PLMs and Ops. It’s also where I got to work with my first female executive as a partner which was an empowering experience. I loved this role because I got to learn ALL the hard work that goes into making the clothes I wear every day... and I haven’t looked at clothing the same since. You gain such appreciation for the craft when you see all that goes into it.  

Today, I am almost one year into my role as the Head of HR for the EMEA region. I oversee the entirety of the HR functions – Payroll, Total Rewards, Talent Acquisition, HR Ops, Inclusion & Belonging, Talent Development, HRBPs, and Teammate Relations. Our team’s goal and mission is to enhance and support our corporate and retail teammates' experience! 

What do you love most about working at Under Armour? What makes you stay?  

The people. Easy answer. My favorite part about playing sports is the TEAM atmosphere. I was missing that element in prior roles and coming here felt like coming home. The first time I was promoted at UA, I was having moments of imposter syndrome, and our CHRO said to me, “It’s hard to fail when the people around you want you to succeed.” That’s stayed with me – and that’s the core of what a team does. This is the feeling I want to give to everyone. I’ve felt like the people here have had my back, there to pick me up when I fall, there to cheer me on when I win, and right beside me when I need thought partnership. I stay because that kind of energy is addictive and the work I do shows a tangible and visible impact in a relatively short amount of time.    

How have you recently seen teammates living out UA’s values?  

Everyday our teammates bring these values to life. Through our Teammate Resource Groups (TRGs) and Works Councils, these groups live out Stand for Equality, providing events, education, support systems, and engagement moments for teammates and our wider business that is so impactful. Through our All Hands showing our Love of Athletes. In EMEA, we’ve had one of our athletes join our All Hands on stage discussing their journey and then meeting with teammates afterwards. And through everyday moments, our teammates engage in Fighting on Together. Everyone is trying to solve problems and build something better for the team and the brand and it shows! 

Looking back, what’s one piece of advice you wish your younger self had heard? 

Do I have to just give one? I could write a book of advice: 

• You can’t fix what you find under every rock. Thanks @Naomi Orie 
• The people in the highest rooms are just people.
• Never stop asking questions. Even when it gets uncomfortable.  
• ‘On the days you only had 40%, and you gave 40%, then you gave 100%.’ That one’s for all the overachievers out there.  
• Amazing things are hard. And hard things are amazing.  
• REST. Life is the longest thing you will ever do, so sit down every once in a while, and enjoy it.  

What upcoming initiatives or developments in HR across EMEA are energizing you right now? 

My favorite part of my job is when I get to build! There is no shortage of things to build at UA and the one I’m most excited about is our upcoming Talent Development programs focused on High Potential Talent and an internal Rotational Program through short term projects. Building and supporting talent growth is always a big topic in any company, and I’m fortunate at UA that I get to strategize and build intentional programming that is both relevant and scalable for the team! 

What is the biggest learning curve you've experienced moving into an HR Leadership role in a new country?  

Laws. I think people don’t realize how much the HR team has to be well versed in employment law and that learning curve is STEEP. Being knowledgeable about employment law, especially with the nuances within the different countries and how often they change, is fascinating and daunting all at once. But I’m addicted to learning and I have some amazing legal partners internally and externally who are a BIG part of helping me over the curve.  

How has your experience adapting to a new culture influenced your leadership style?  

Going anywhere outside of your comfort zone gives you the opportunity to completely shift your perspective and unlearn or relearn things you never thought you would.  I've found myself being more patient. There are too many regional complexities, nuances, and cultural considerations to make one size fit all solutions or recommendations as quickly as I normally would. Like many Americans moving to Europe, the big adaptation comes with work-life balance. The fullness of lives and the prioritization of time spent on family, friends, and self- care here has not only pushed me personally, but it has forced me to rethink how I define productivity and success while also supporting healthier boundaries for myself and others.  

What hobbies or activities are you involved in outside of work that help you to recharge and maintain balance in your life?   

Well, I have three dogs and a cat who keep my husband and me VERY busy because two of them are puppies. So, when we aren’t trying to train or calm them down, we enjoy our newfound love of bike riding through Amsterdam. It’s a relaxing and amazing way to explore the city. We LOVE to travel – my office has a collage of pictures from all the places I’ve been, and it’s been a fun game for people to try and guess where the pictures are from. My husband loves to cook, so I am a connoisseur of his hobby and occasionally serve as his sous chef. Moving to Europe has definitely changed my perspective on what real balance looks like, and while I am admittedly not fully balanced yet, I’m getting there!