Discussions about innovation, creativity and leadership Masai Ujiri, President, Toronto Raptors

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Around this time last year, many of us were still on our high from the recent Raptors win. Parades in the streets, patio parties, and Raptors paraphernalia everywhere you turned. There was this pride that we had as Canadians, a feeling of accomplishment that was shared throughout the nation.

Fast-forward a year and a bit. This March there was little to celebrate. Global lockdowns had occurred, and in North America, there has risen a disturbing trifecta: COVID-19, economic downturn, and horrific violence, all playing out on the global screen.

Now, there is a new trend; organizations are openly, and almost forcefully promoting diversity and inclusion within their companies. There is more dialogue about how institutions work to the advantage of some, and harm others. Companies are being challenged to review their mission, purpose, values and the way that they operate.

It has all seemed hyperbolic.

It was a refreshing change when I was introduced to the Audi Innovation Series. On June 22^nd, 2020, Audi Canada developed its first-ever virtual iteration of the Audi Innovation Series, a Canadian speaker series designed to highlight the spirit of Audi and its belief in creativity and innovation.

The series hosted by Dwight Drummond (CBC Journalist), features speakers from a variety of fields including technology, business, art, sports, fashion, design, and literature. The series allows visionaries and trendsetters from around the globe share their talents and passion for creative change, and isn’t that what we need right now? The timing couldn’t be better.

I had a chance to preview the dialogue between Dwight Drummond and Toronto Raptor’s President Masai Ujiri. The work he is doing is not only revolutionary, but it is also patriotic.

“As a young kid growing up on the continent, first I found the sports, the outdoors, but with parents who were educators, the emphasis was on my education.”

Son of a doctor and educator, Masai breaks down life as he remembers it when he lived in Africa. “Growing up in Africa, the spirit and passion for life is important. Having the freedom to be happy is crucial. At 13 years old I found basketball.

My interest in basketball came because on the way to the soccer field, we had to cross a basketball court. We used to stop and shoot the soccer ball.

Soccer was easy, but a game with my hands intrigued me. At first, we would stop and play for a little, but eventually, we started to play basketball for longer, and finally, we started playing ball with all the rules. When I met Oliver Johnson (American Basketball Coach) it changed my life forever.”

He began to dream about a career in Africa. “Something in my mind told me I couldn’t, but I had that dream.” His dreams became a reality, and now, he is in a position to make the dreams of other young people come true. For him, it is important that he shows children in Africa that they to can live their dreams.

Masai is now the president of a championship winning team, and he openly admits the keys to his success.

“Hire smart people. I hire people smarter than me. Hire outside the box thinkers. The one thing I know is that I am not afraid to try. Sometimes you have to push the edge a little. When I took over the organization, there was only one woman working for the Raptors. We now have 14 women working for us. We have to be intentional in our actions. We all have to be visionaries. My proudest achievement and moments is seeing how people have been affected by our win last year. Seeing the love and appreciation. Seeing the coaches and players deliver on a dream. It is a proud moment.”

His vision includes giving back and helping people along the way. Basketball created a platform for him, where he is able to speak up for people who need a voice.  “In many situations, I have to be an activist. I have to speak for them. Nelson Mandela inspires me. If we had him in this time, life would be different.”

With a mission to empower and give back, Masai has created a pipeline from Africa to the America’s. With the development of Giants of Africa in 2003, he has been able to change the life, and realities of boys and girls on the continent through the power of sport. His personal experience had already shown him that there was an abundance of talent in Africa, but unfortunately, the young athletes there are often overlooked because they lacked experience in the game and lacked access to coaching and facilities.

So, what did he do? He changed that.

Each summer, Giants of Africa oversees camps for boys and girls between the ages of 15 and 19. Giants of Africa have successful allied with youth in over 17 African countries and territories, and has developed players at the local national, international, and professional levels.

The organization has supported the educational achievement of over 100 campers, who have attended high school, or university in the United States and Canada. 25 former participants have played on junior teams in clubs throughout Europe, and over 65 have attended NBA’s Basketball Without Borders programs in Africa (https://giantsofafrica.org/). Many of these young people have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and teachers.

To add to the incredible work already being done, Giants of Africa has built basketball courts, and have created outreach centres throughout the continent. Some of these include:

• SAUTI KUU FOUNDATION CENTER
• RAFIKI CLUB BASKETBALL
• SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGE
• MULLY’S CHILDREN FAMILY
• DIWOPA CATHOLIC SCHOOL, KAYOLE, KENYA
• LITTLE SAINTS ORPHANAGE
• NELSON MANDELA PARK PUBLIC SCHOOL

“Giants of Africa; I want to change it to Giants of the World.” Masai exclaims. “We have done some great work, and I am happy that we have.”

 His final thoughts, “Be good to people. Be honest and find trust! It all comes back to character. Who are you as a person?”