Skechers president Michael Greenberg was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 2025 FN Achievement Awards. Skechers ambassador Howie Mandel presented the brand’s cofounder with the award, and delivered a lighthearted speech about how he became involved with the brand.
“I’m just going to give you a little quick little story of why I’m here,” he said. About three years ago, I heard that Sketchers had these slip-ins. I’m a germaphobe. I don’t like touching shoes, and I went to the store to buy slip-ins. I went up to the counter and the woman said, ‘Are you Howie Mandel? You’re obviously one of our ambassadors, right?’ And I wasn’t, but I said I was because she said I get a discount.”
Michael Greenberg and Howie Mandel
Kristina Bumphrey
Even after his wife Terry Mandel urged him to be honest when the employee couldn’t find his ambassador number on file, Mandel insisted he worked with the company, and received a 50 percent off discount on the shoes. He said the employee then asked him to hold up the sneakers so she took a photo to send to the Skechers head office.
“Two weeks later my agent said Skechers called. ‘This is a big company, they want their 40 bucks.’ That’s what I thought, but it was Michael,” Mandel said. “They called and they asked me to be an ambassador, and they heard that story of how I became the ambassador and they made that the campaign. So I am now telling the world that I’m a liar and lying will get you ahead, which I think is the underbelly of all retail.”
Denitsa Bumbarova and Howie Mandel
John Nacion
Mandel opened up about his appreciation for the Skechers team, saying the Greenbergs are like family to him. “They are so brilliant and so strategic and different and think out of the box like no other company I’ve ever worked with,” Mandel said. “Even their employees are so proud to be team members, and that all comes down from the top. I love these people. I don’t just work for them. I would be here if I weren’t being paid. I couldn’t be more honored to present the Hall of Fame award to my good friend Michael Greenberg.”
Greenberg, who is a 30-year veteran in the footwear industry and played a vital role in Skechers’ growth, took the stage to accept his award, telling the crowd Mandel was “in line for a raise” after the heartfelt speech. “Is he unbelievable? You know, he’s in line for a raise. I gotta tell you, out of all the people that have endorsed this brand, you sell [the most] effing shoes.”
“We’ve built this amazing ubiquitous brand. We’ve manufactured and shipped north of four billion pairs of shoes in the 33 years that we’ve been doing this. That’s pretty incredible,” Greenberg said. “I truly in my core believe that if Sketchers slipped away, it would be missed. It would be missed dearly because it changes the lives physically, mentally, of so many consumers around the world.”
Michael Greenberg
John Nacion
He added: “I’m glad that I played a role in crafting and, and nurturing this brand, achieving $10 billion in annual sales, which is just incredible. I’m very fortunate to work with my family and I have the support of so many.”
Greenberg also addressed the news that Skechers was acquired by 3G Capital in September. “I’m not certain if anybody in this audience attending tonight heard that Skechers was acquired. Is that still a secret? Well, if it is, it’s no longer. I have a Brazilian wife. And now I have Brazilian bosses, which I’m super grateful for our partnership.”
“Daniel Schwartz and Paulo Basilio from 3G are here tonight, and I want to welcome you guys in front of the industry into the industry,” he added. “I’m not retiring. My work has just begun. I feel like I want to take this company into the future.”
The FN Achievement Awards returned on Wednesday at Cipriani 25 Broadway in New York, celebrating the footwear industry’s top innovators. This year, Pharrell Williams and Adidas received the Shoe of the Year award, while Tommy Hilfiger was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting impact on fashion. Other honorees included Coco Gauff, Ronnie Fieg, Wolverine Worldwide, Nordstrom, the Jordan Brand and more.
