How LIU’s 39-Sport D1 Athletic Director Moves With IAMBIC

Leaders Who Move: Elliott Charles

Leaders Who Move is a series with high-performing people whose work depends on movement, presence, and preparation. These are leaders who carry entire communities on their shoulders and whose days demand clarity, stamina, and the ability to shift gears with intention.

Elliott Charles, Executive Director of Athletics at LIU, oversees one of the largest Division One athletic departments in the country. His leadership spans 39 sports, more than 800 student athletes, and 2 campuses. His days stretch from early morning family routines to late night practices, campus events, and postseason travel. Through it all, he brings intention, balance, and self discipline to every step.

His perspective offers a rare window into what leadership looks like when movement never stops and why footwear built for stability and precision matters for people whose work depends on being fully present. This is where the MODEL T becomes the leaders shoe, supporting long days, heavy workloads, and thousands of steps that carry a program forward.

How IAMBIC’s precision fit works

1. Smartphone scan: Capture your foot geometry with a quick, guided photo scan.
2. Fit profile: Share comfort preferences and how you move, so the fit matches your daily demands.
3. Crafted to your data: Our Fit Engine creates a millimeter accurate digital last, then artisans craft your pair in Portugal.

Start with the Fit Guide Quiz, or explore the MODEL T.

Elliott Charles on leadership, movement, and daily routines

When you think back on your path into athletic leadership, was there a moment when you realized this was the work you were built to do?

I had a very intentional path. When I was seventeen, I wrote for Slam Magazine and shared the story of an under recruited friend. That article helped him earn a college scholarship. It opened my eyes to how powerful advocacy can be. From there, every step of my education and early career pulled me deeper into supporting student athletes. It shaped how I lead today.

Across all the programs you have served, what is the consistent belief that shapes how you build strong communities?

I am student centered. That is my grounding principle. As I moved into executive roles, my focus expanded into purpose, culture, and systems. I believe people perform at their highest level when they understand their purpose, when they know how to measure success, and when the environment around them supports that. Leadership is about creating that structure and protecting it.

Your early career included compliance and risk. How did that shape your leadership today?

Compliance gave me discipline. It trained me to study regulations, master the details, and treat every part of the department like a tool rather than a cost center. When you understand the rulebook, you gain trust. When people trust you, you gain responsibility. That journey taught me how to connect systems with people, which is the foundation of every strong athletic department.

When someone steps into LIU Athletics, what do you hope they feel about the culture you are building?

Respect, clarity, and a clear focus on students. With thirty nine sports, two campuses, and more than eight hundred student athletes, culture has to be intentional or it will not stick. Every decision begins with the student perspective. When I lose touch with students, I know something is missing. Connection keeps the culture real.

Your days start before sunrise and end after games. What does a full day of movement look like for you?

Movement starts at four in the morning. My wife is the track and field and cross country director at LIU, so she leaves early for practice and I get the kids ready. By the time I walk into the building, I make sure I pause and shift into a positive mindset. From there, my calendar looks like Tetris. Meetings, practices, campus events, travel, everything moves. On a typical day, I hit around thirteen thousand steps, sometimes more.

With that constant motion, how do you stay grounded and focused?

I end my day with intention. The start of the day is unpredictable, but the end is where I set up tomorrow. I review my notes, decide on the three priorities I must get done, and I stop taking work home. The people who need you during the day rely on your energy more than your output. Ending the day with clarity preserves that energy.

You mentioned that health became a priority. How has that influenced your routines?

I had periods of anxiety when I was younger because I made myself too accessible. I had to change how I approached stress. Adding walking, intermittent fasting, and better awareness of how I move helped me regain balance. Small changes like adjusting when I eat or tracking my steps made major differences in how I feel.

What does travel look like for someone managing nearly 40 Division One programs?

Travel is strategic. During the regular season I try to balance equity. I might take two flights a year for football, then travel by car or bus for other sports. Postseason is different. I show up for everyone. My presence matters. Coaches and athletes feel it. My suitcase is always packed with wires, laptops, and the essentials that keep me organized on the road.

You lead so many people across campuses. How aware are you of the presence you carry?

Leadership is engagement. I am very self aware of my tone, expressions, and energy. I look for the most direct and non confrontational way to address challenges. My job is to keep people confident and motivated. If I stay consistent, people know what to expect from me and they can perform without fear.

Let’s talk about the moment you first received your IAMBICs. What caught your attention first?

Style and substance. As a bigger guy, it has always been hard to find shoes that offer both support and a polished look that lasts. When I first held the MODEL T, I noticed the build quality. The sole stood out. The design stood out. And when I put it on, I immediately thought, if I had these on earlier today, I would have moved through everything with more ease.

How does the individual attention in the scanning and fit process connect to the way you lead athletes?

It is the same idea. Know who you are. Know what you need. Before you lead others, you have to build stability in your foundation. The MODEL T removes the static of discomfort. It frees mental bandwidth. When you are in constant motion, you cannot be distracted by pain or imbalance. Precision brings clarity.

When you looked closely at the shoe, what details stood out to you?

The sturdiness, the subtle colorwork, the seaming, and the base. The tread looks good and feels good. It matches the pace of New York. It has a timeless look. You can wear it to a practice, then walk into a meeting in Brooklyn or Manhattan. It rises to the level of the moment.

What was your reaction to the smartphone scan and AI-driven fit?

Cutting edge. The process was simple but meaningful. The questionnaire stood out most. It made me reflect on how I move, where I walk, and how my feet react over the course of a day. The experience made the result feel earned, like the shoe was truly built for me.

You work in a world driven by data. How do you see that reflected in IAMBIC?

Data reveals what needs to be improved. When I tracked my steps, I went from ten thousand to fifteen thousand steps a day. That changed my health. The MODEL T applies the same idea. It starts with style, then layers in measurements and information that shape the shoe to your life. Over time, it helps you understand your movement and maybe even adjust it.

What did you feel the first time you stepped into your IAMBICs?

Comfort, security, and balance. I had been wearing a pair that looked good but did not support me. The first step in the MODEL T felt like a reset. The shoe centered me, and that stayed with me during the entire day.

“Comfort, stability, and style in one shoe is what stands out. It changes your entire routine.”

Elliott Charles

How does the feel compare to the other shoes you wear?

It is more stable than my dress shoes and more polished than my running shoes. With other pairs, I often need inserts or need to change shoes to match the moment. With the MODEL T, I do not have to switch. One pair does the work of many.

Where do you see IAMBIC fitting into your daily wardrobe as a leader?

It is my new daily pair. Stylish enough for the office, durable enough for long days on foot, and supportive enough for travel. That combination makes my entire day smoother. When you remove the distraction of uncomfortable footwear, you can focus fully on the people who need you.

LIU basketball uses the mantra “fins up.” How does that idea connect to leadership and movement?

It is about balance. A shark raises its fin to keep steady while it moves forward. When we say “fins up,” it is a reminder to stay centered through wins and losses. Stability in your body and your mindset supports that. Footwear that lets you move with balance reinforces that philosophy.

For other leaders who move all day, what do you want them to know about your experience with IAMBIC?

IAMBIC checks every box. Stylish, versatile, supportive, and built for long days. Leaders carry a lot. You should not have to carry discomfort on top of everything else.

Explore the MODEL T, recognized as a TIME Best Invention.

Helpful links

• MODEL T
• Fit Guide Quiz
• Technology
• AI Tailored Footwear
• How Custom Fit Shoes Work
• TIME Best Invention