True Edge Tuesday with Adam Weeks
At SharkNinja, we strive for the outrageously extraordinary in everything we do, driven by our True Edge – the super skills that set us apart. This cornerstone of the outrageously extraordinary mindset harnesses innovative insight and strategic solutions to create a competitive advantage, empowering us to positively impact people’s lives every day.
True Edge Tuesday celebrates team members who go above and beyond, showcasing what it means to reject the status quo and embrace the extraordinary.
Meet Adam!
Adam Weeks, Senior Program Manager, has spent the past five years at SharkNinja making an impact across multiple categories at SharkNinja, including Robots, Home Environment, Shark Beauty, and now, Ninja Motorized. Adam’s ability to adapt, lead, and drive innovation ensures every project moves forward with precision and purpose, embodying the True Edge mindset.
OE in Action
For Adam, challenging the status quo isn’t a one-time action—it’s a mindset. When faced with obstacles, his instinct is to ask, “How might we…?” rather than accept delays. He believes there’s always a way forward, whether that means taking a smaller step when a full one isn’t possible or finding interim solutions to maintain momentum.
A great example of this approach is a recent product development initiative. When the full product wasn’t ready for sign-off at a key milestone, Adam and his team found a way to keep progress on track. Instead of delaying the entire program, they broke down the approval process into distinct phases, focusing on critical components first. By prioritizing key elements and using interim solutions where needed, they ensured that essential parts were available for testing at each stage. This strategic approach allowed them to stay aligned with business goals and launch timing without compromising on quality or efficiency.
Adam’s ability to break down complex challenges has been a hallmark of his success. Early in his career at SharkNinja, he led the launch of the company’s first advanced navigation robot vacuums in the UK and EU—despite having no prior experience with robots or those markets. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, he embraced the challenge, quickly learning and problem-solving step by step.
His drive to find solutions and push boundaries continues to make an impact, ensuring that projects move forward efficiently and successfully.
Hear from Adam
What does it mean to be Outrageously Extraordinary?
I believe outrageously extraordinary to be something that is unique to each person and their situation. It’s a mindset as much it is how you show up for anything you do inside and outside of the workplace. At SharkNinja I see it as the driving factor in how we’ve had tremendous growth and achieved such great feats in solving consumer problems in categories that (when we look back) are baffled and amazed that we have entered. In my time here there’s always been that ‘it factor’ for those who have great success and long storied careers here and we’ve managed to take a stab at quantifying that as Outrageously Extraordinary. For me personally, OE is as much intentional as it is second nature. The intentional piece is when things are difficult, or you may not be performing to your potential but yet you make the intentional effort to make the most of the situation. The second nature piece is the ‘it factor’ I mentioned that is so hard to quantify… a character trait; it’s challenging the status quo, failing but learning from it and not letting it define you; it’s operating in ambiguity and being able to see the ultimate goal and always having your eyes set on the horizon to achieve greatness.
True Edge is described as “a key principle of the OE mindset, combining vigilance, innovative insight, and strategic solutions to create a competitive advantage that is exceptionally hard to replicate.”
What’s your True Edge, or what are you working to build?
My True Edge is being able to challenge the status quo and put healthy tension into our teams to drive the critical thinking needed to solve complex problems. As a Program Manager I am a master of no one discipline but can sit in any conversation with any team and be able to dive into the details to enable the next level thinking. This for me developed outside of SharkNinja and is how I am in my personal life (challenging what people say for better or for worse 😊). Just because something has been done a certain way doesn’t mean it’s right and we reserve the right to question it and do it different/better. I believe as a vehicle has been a perfect fit for my personality and has given me the opportunity through several teams and product categories to deploy the natural True Edge that I have. Additionally, my ability to apply my skillset across now 5+ categories in SharkNinja/my other career stops and have success in each is another component of my True Edge.
The True Edge that I want to build further is taking my skills to a larger scale and working my way into having a major impact on business strategy and success of SharkNinja globally. Additionally, I continue to strengthen my True Edge by navigating the unique challenges that come with each NPD program that I work on. True Edge does not have an end goal—it’s honing your talents and unique characteristics and then continuing to optimize and improve upon them to be as dynamic as the business.
Can you share examples of how you live “OE”?
I think I live OE by being unapologetically me both inside and outside of work. It’s the challenging of status quo that so many people shy away from and I truly believe that I can do it better or figure out how to do it better than it’s been done. Professionally, I live OE by continuing to push the growth in my career when others may want to get complacent with their success or position. Personally, it’s meticulous planning of vacations and trips to make the most of the time that we have explore, be curious, relax and learn more about the world.
What makes working at SharkNinja special?
I think SharkNinja has really given me the opportunity to showcase my talents and the mentors I’ve had along the way (and are yet to have) have truly meant the world to me in helping me navigate our unique way of life. I’m one that gets bored easily and the challenges of have kept my attention (for nearly 5 years!). This is the longest tenure I’ve had at a company and truly feel like I’ve found my place where the opportunity matches my ambition, and I certainly look forward to seeing what the next 5+ years has in store!
