There are very few people in the US, and perhaps even the world, who have not heard of Magic Johnson. The NBA legend who left basketball to fight HIV in the 90s is still a vocal social advocate today. Furthermore, he is the Chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises, a company that is both successful and socially aware. The athlete turned entrepreneur, Earvin Johnson has been an inspiration for those that have followed his personal and professional life for over four decades.
Magic Johnson has undoubtedly lived a remarkable life on and off the court. After having dominated the basketball games for over 13 years, the athlete was struck with terminal HIV (Laughland, 2021). However, as a true sportsman, Johnson did not crush under the circumstances. Instead, he changed his career path to what corresponded with his current condition – and became a public health advocate for HIV and AIDS (Laughland, 2021).
Today a powerful businessman, having just been appointed as a member of the board of directors of Fanatics (“Earvin “Magic” Johnson Appointed to Fanatics Board of Directors,” 2021), Johnson continues to fight against social injustice. Amid COVID-19, he is one of the strongest advocates for the racial disparities that become even more evident in a global health crisis (Laughland, 2021). And all the while he continues to manage his corporation, as well as the only retail company Fanatics.
As mentioned above, one of the greatest assets of Johnson’s company is the focus not only on profit but on social awareness and accountability. According to the Magic Johnson Enterprises website (“Company,” 2021), some of the reasons for the company’s success lie in its wide reach and core values. Since the formation of the company in 1987, Johnson has been solidifying partnerships in all spheres of business – Sony and real estate in 1995 and 1996 respectively, and Starbucks in 1998 (“Company,” 2021).
From sports to entertainment, to the food industry – Johnson seems to have managed to leave his mark in every field that he could get his hands on. However, what makes him even more valuable and valued as a person and entrepreneur is his commitment to accountability and empowerment (“Company,” 2021). His social agenda separates him from faceless corporations, creating a name brand out of an otherwise overgeneralized business structure.
References
Company. (2021). Magic Johnson Enterprises. Web.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson Appointed to Fanatics Board of Directors. (2021). Business Wire. Web.
Laughland, O. (2021). Magic Johnson: the NBA superstar who smashed HIV stigma – then built a huge fortune. The Guardian. Web.