Ian Forde

Ian Forde is a brand strategist, product visionary, and culture builder with more than two decades spent shaping the intersection of sport, fashion, and storytelling. As Chief Imagination Officer at RH7 Sports, Ian leads the agency’s creative vision and cultural positioning with a focus on expanding how women of color are seen, valued, and represented across the sports landscape.

Throughout his career Ian has built a reputation for connecting product, people, and narrative in ways that move beyond traditional marketing. His experience spans executive leadership, merchandising, product creation, partnership strategy, and brand development across some of the most recognizable names in sport and lifestyle. From helping shape the voice of basketball apparel at Puma to leading product and brand strategy for Lotto’s return to the U.S. market, his work consistently lives at the intersection of commerce and culture.

Ian’s approach is rooted in the belief that sport is bigger than performance. It’s identity, community, memory, and self expression. That perspective has allowed him to build meaningful collaborations with creatives, athletes, retailers, and cultural leaders including June Ambrose, Emory Jones, Dapper Dan, Jeff Hamilton, Rich Fresh, and others whose work continues to influence how sport is experienced globally.

At RH7 Sports, Ian’s role centers on imagination as strategy. He works to create platforms, partnerships, and narratives that allow women in sport to be positioned not only as athletes, but as business leaders, creators, storytellers, and cultural architects. His work focuses on building long-term equity, authentic representation, and opportunities that feel both commercially viable and culturally honest.

Beyond brand and product work, Ian remains deeply committed to mentorship, community impact, and access. He currently serves on the board of Black Girl Tribe and has consistently used his platform to advocate for greater inclusion, visibility, and investment within sport and fashion industries. Whether developing product, shaping partnerships, or building stories around modern sport culture, Ian’s work is driven by one consistent idea. The strongest brands and movements are built through connection.