My Journey
My parents always knew I had a knack for sports from my immense focus on the TV during the Olympics. Every four years, we would watch Team Jamaica dominate the world in track and field. Those days of watching Usain Bolt run are what gave me my passion for running. Knowing this, my parents enrolled me in athletics programs to hone my skills and make my dreams of being a star athlete come true. So, from the age of 5 till my early teen years, I've been a multi-sport athlete, participating in track, soccer and hockey for multiple teams. But it wasn't until I was 14 that I fell in love with the sport of track and field. What solidified it as my favorite was a 200m race where I ran 21.9s at 14. The bliss of moving that fast made me love the sport; it made me feel like I could achieve my dreams.
After dedicating three years full of global pandemics and losses, I persevered with a solid work ethic and team, including my family and coach and found success in Track and Field. At the age of 17, I was offered a full scholarship to Clemson University to further my athletic and academic journey.
My years at Clemson University have given me memories I’ll carry for life — stories I’ll one day share with my kids. It’s been the best chapter of my life so far. I’ve grown through adaptation, adversity, maturity, and moments of both victories and defeat. Competing at the highest level of collegiate athletics in the world has shaped me in ways I never imagined.
Family and growing up
Being Jamaican, I was blessed to grow up surrounded by a rich culture, a strong sense of community, and the rhythms of music, language, and dance. For most of my childhood, my siblings and I lived with our grandparents while our parents worked long days and nights. While some might see that as unusual, for me, it was home, greeting neighbors each day, and watching my uncles and aunts come and go was part of daily life. Those early experiences shaped my identity and helped me stay closely connected to my family, especially after we moved to Canada when I was 8.
In love with two
Growing up, I was constantly told I’d eventually have to choose between my two favorite sports: soccer and track. For a long time, I didn’t think much of it, until the choice became real at 15. I remember sitting down with my dad as he told me it was time to focus on one path. He believed trying to juggle both would hold me back from reaching my full potential.
At the time, I didn’t fully understand his vision, but I trusted him. And although it wasn’t an easy decision, I chose track. Looking back on my journey and accomplishments in both sports, I know now it was the right call. I put soccer aside, not out of loss, but out of belief in what was possible, and I’ve been fully committed to chasing excellence on the track ever since.
Immerse yourself
After stepping away from soccer in 2019, I set my sights on a new goal: making the Canadian U20 track team. While the goal felt within reach, the journey came with unexpected adversity. Later that year, the COVID-19 pandemic halted all athletic activities, and for the first time, I found myself unable to train in any formal setting.
It was the most challenging moment in my athletic career. But instead of waiting, I asked myself, "What is my competition doing right now, and what am I doing?" That question ignited something in me because I knew somewhere out there someone was training, doing the work I wasn't, and that thought fueled my drive. My competitive edge was evoked, and I began training on my own: running on the spot in front of mirrors to perfect my form, grinding through core & body weight workouts, and doing sprinter drills in my basement.
Those months of isolation became my defining moment. They shaped my integrity, deepened my discipline, and helped me discover my "why": I didn’t just want to compete, I wanted to lead and be the best. I wanted to be ahead, I wanted the thrill of winning.
Adversity
My journey in track and field has taught me that success doesn’t always come on the first try. In 2021, I declared for the U20 World Championships but missed the qualifying time by just 0.02 seconds. It was a difficult moment, one that tested my patience and resilience. However, with the support of my parents and coach, I learned that setbacks are part of growth, and that perseverance often leads to greater rewards. Their encouragement inspired me to train even harder, and one year later, I earned a spot on the Canadian U20 Track and Field Team. I went on to help the team secure a bronze medal in the 4x400m relay and a Canadian record. That experience showed me the power of delayed success and reinforced the importance of patience, discipline, and mental strength, values that I carry with me in both athletics and life.
No matter what is thrown at me, I always find a way to outwork my past self or others aiming for the same position; I will always think ahead, put my best foot forward, and never stop trying until I succeed.
Whats next
I've always looked beyond the finish line, from growing up in Jamaica to running track in high school, making the Canadian team, looking forward to becoming a Division 1 athlete, and now setting my sights on my future career in sales. Being a part of the Adobe Sales Academy has helped me develop my brand of adaptability, analytics, and communication.
I have developed an interest in becoming an Enterprise Account Executive. As an Enterprise Account Executive, I would be responsible for managing high-value client relationships, identifying strategic business opportunities, and driving sales of Adobe’s enterprise-level solutions. This role requires strong communication, problem-solving, and consultative selling skills to deliver customized value to top-tier customers.
Outreach
To get in contact with Enterprise Account Executives and other employees, I reached out to people virtually. I am working remotely, and while dealing with time differences and not being a part of in-person interactions is challenging, I decided to look at this positively and own the outcome. I accomplished this by successfully using the RRR email framework and the WWW framework voicemail. Not everyone accepted my offer, and that’s the nature of the industry. Sometimes you hear yes, and other times you hear no. What matters most is how you respond: with grit, resilience, and the determination to keep moving forward, even when the outcome isn’t in your favor.
RRR (email)
Hi [First name],
I hope you’re doing well! I’m currently participating in the Adobe Sales Academy Micro-Internship while pursuing my degree in health science at Clemson University, and I’ve been researching top performers within Adobe’s sales organization. Your journey into leadership, especially your role in [Enterprise Account Executives], stood out to me as both impressive and inspiring.
As a student-athlete with a passion for communication, competitive environments, and grit, I’m actively exploring how to launch a long-term career at Adobe—ideally growing into a role like Enterprise Account Executive. I’d be grateful for the opportunity to learn from someone who’s already achieved so much within the company. Would you be open to a quick 15–20 minute conversation sometime next week? I’m happy to work around your schedule and come prepared with a few focused questions. Thank you for your time and consideration!
Warm regards,
Daniel Kidd Clemson University | Adobe Micro-Intern
Kidddaniel92@gmail.com | (780)-871-8462
[www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-kidd-038577364]