For generations, the career paths most visible to young people with talent in sports or entertainment ended when the spotlight dimmed. But today’s athletes and influencers are challenging that narrative—using their platforms, networks, and firsthand lessons from competition to build businesses that create jobs, expand opportunity, and strengthen communities.
At the Chamber, we're taking a closer look at some of the sports and entertainment entrepreneurs that have visited with us. We spoke with four entrepreneurs who shared how they’ve translated success on the court, field, and screen into purpose‑driven ventures. Their stories span nonprofits, technology, hospitality, agriculture, and media, but together they underscore a powerful truth: entrepreneurship is not a side project. It’s serious business.
Jeron Smith: Bridging Sports, Media, and Technology
Jeron Smith’s career sits at the intersection of brand, culture, and innovation. From early work at Nike to helping shape the Obama White House’s digital strategy, Smith has consistently worked where storytelling meets scale.
That experience carried into sports and media, where he became Chief Marketing Officer for Stephen Curry and co‑founded Unanimous Media, a production company partnering with Sony Studios to create film and television content. Smith has also co‑founded Heir, a technology company designed to help athletes scale their brands and likenesses for the future, and launched Incubation Lab, which applies Hollywood‑level cinematic storytelling to fields like politics and healthcare.
Smith sees the U.S. Chamber’s sports and entertainment work as a critical bridge—bringing together athlete entrepreneurs and the nation’s largest business advocacy organization, filling a long‑standing gap between sports, enterprise, and long‑term economic thinking.
Josh Norman: Reinventing the Customer Experience
Former NFL player and Chairman & CEO of Arknet Global Josh Norman has taken a hands‑on approach to entrepreneurship, founding Omni Coffee in Atlanta. The concept blends café efficiency with fine‑dining hospitality—customers order at a counter, then are served at their tables by hosts dressed in 1700s royal attire, complete with fine china and silver platters.
The result is a one‑of‑one experience designed to be memorable, immersive, and intentional. Along the way, Norman has faced the realities of entrepreneurship head‑on—navigating setbacks, refining his vision, and sharpening his resilience as a business leader.
For Norman, Omni Coffee is also about changing perceptions. His journey reflects a broader point echoed throughout the event: athletes are not just competitors. They are capable builders, operators, and leaders inside and outside the spotlight.
CJ McCollum: Investing in Legacy and Long‑Term Impact
CJ McCollum, a professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks and longtime entrepreneur, is building what he describes as a legacy of opportunity. His portfolio spans education, agriculture, wine, and community investment, anchored by a commitment to long‑term impact.
McCollum founded the McCollum Scholars program to support students from New Orleans through college, launched McCollum Heritage 91, a wine brand rooted in Oregon agriculture, and operates Ruby Nursery, supplying specialty plants and fruit to other wineries. His investments reflect a values‑driven approach that blends business sustainability with community benefit.
Across each venture, McCollum’s goal is consistent: to leverage success in sports to leave the world better than he found it—especially for kids and communities that historically lack access to opportunity.
Ian Brock: Building Pathways Beyond the Spotlight
For Ian Brock, entrepreneurship is about expanding what’s possible for the next generation. As co‑founder of Dream Hustle Code, Brock is tackling a familiar challenge head‑on: the limited options many young people believe are available to them.
Dream Hustle Code teaches students financial literacy, computer science, technology, and personal development—introducing careers in gaming, entrepreneurship, tech, and artificial intelligence. The organization is also building an AI‑powered workforce development pipeline designed to connect teens directly to real jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Brock’s mission is rooted in visibility and belief. By exposing young people to a wider range of futures, Dream Hustle Code offers both hope and a blueprint for thriving in the digital economy, strengthening families and local economies along the way.
A New Playbook for Athlete Entrepreneurship
Athletes and entertainment leaders are building businesses that extend far beyond endorsements—creating pathways to education, innovation, job creation, and community resilience. Their stories offer a glimpse into a future where success in sports is not the end of the story but the beginning of something much bigger.
Read a Recap Of Our Business of Sports and Entertainment Event:
About the author
Lindsay Burton
Lindsay (Cates) Burton is a director on the communications team. She leads strategic communications for member marketing partnerships and small business advocacy programs. She previously worked as a writer and editor at U.S. News and World Report.
