Magic Johnson

Speech Topics

Earvin faced challenges all of his life, but at one time, he faced the biggest challenge of all; his own brave battle with HIV. In this dramatic, exciting, and inspirational presentation, Earvin provides the audience with a behind-the-scenes look into his life, his triumphs and tragedies on and off the court and the strength and commitment he drew from supporters, friends and family.

Recognizing a dearth in services for those in need in urban areas, Earvin founded the Magic Johnson Foundation to develop programs and support community-based organizations that address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities. Based on his own experiences, he knew first-hand the challenges these communities had to overcome and saw the suffering that they inflicted on families. Since its inception, MJF has had phenomenal success due to the dedication and hard work of its founder. Learn from Earvin how you can make a difference in your own community and have a lasting impact that will renew its spirit.

As a young man, Earvin “Magic” Johnson admired his father and other small-town entrepreneurs who created jobs and served as leaders in his Midwestern community. He worked for them, watched them, and his interest in building communities through economic development grew even while his basketball career flourished. His fame as an NBA star gave him access to some of the most successful business leaders in the country. It was Earvin’s own entrepreneurial spirit that inspired them to serve as his mentors. Earvin made the transition from great athlete to greater entrepreneur through hard work and by avidly pursuing opportunities. In this compelling presentation, Earvin will provide strategies and insight on identifying unrecognized opportunities and how to capitalize on them for success. This presentation will inspire and enlighten anyone wishing to make a similar impact with their careers and business endeavors.

Biography

Earvin “Magic” Johnson is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Magic Johnson Enterprises, an investment conglomerate that provides high-quality products and services that focus primarily on ethnically diverse and underserved urban communities. Having left the basketball court for the boardroom, Johnson parlayed the skills and tenacity he acquired on the court into a winning formula for his successful business ventures.

For the last two decades Johnson has consistently turned heads with his unprecedented partnerships. In his early years as an entrepreneur, he forged an alliance with Sony Pictures to develop Magic Johnson Theatres. In 1998, he teamed with Starbucks to become the only franchisee in the history of the company, acquiring and eventually selling 125 stores in a lucrative move which further solidified his position in the business world. Both ventures served as catalysts for redevelopment in urban communities, and are widely recognized as the corporate blueprint for engagement and success with urban consumers across America.

Still a commanding presence in the sports world, he made history in 2012 when he became co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a Major League Baseball franchise that was purchased for an astronomical $2 billion dollars. It was the highest purchase price for any professional sports team at the time. He also co-owns the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Football Club, and eSports franchise Team Liquid.

Johnson continues to expand his influence through a number of other investments. He currently has controlling interests in EquiTrust, an $18 billion financial services company, and SodexoMAGIC, a food service and facilities management company.

The Lansing native is constantly evolving and remaining relevant in a dynamic digital age by broadening his scope into infrastructure and technology. In 2015, Magic Johnson Enterprises and Loop Capital formed an alliance to create MJE-Loop Capital Partners. The firm raised a fund committed to investing millions of dollars on infrastructure improvement in the United States.

Operating under the philosophy that true success is making others successful, he is one of the leading investors in a number of minority-owned tech companies that include Uncharted Power, an award-winning power and data infrastructure technology company; ShotTracker, a company that makes wearable technology for basketball players that helps track player and ball movement; Jopwell, a diversity and hiring recruiting platform; Walker & Co Brands, a company that develops health and beauty products for people of color; and MiTú, the Latino-fueled media brand and digital network that connects thousands of Latin content creators with viewers around the world. He is deliberate in his investment strategy to bring positive impact to the community.

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