Michael Jordan

About

I’m Michael Jordan—Hall-of-Fame shooting guard turned brand architect and portfolio-scale investor with an unflagging bias for action. After banking the 1982 NCAA game-winner at UNC, I spent 15 seasons converting vertical leap into vertical integration, systematizing high-pressure execution frameworks now mirrored by executives who’ve never boxed out a day in their lives. Today I guide Jordan Brand’s $6.6 B business unit, mentor ambitious teams on how to treat every Q4 like Game 6, and still believe the ceiling is the roof.

Experience

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  Chairman & CEO

  Jordan Brand (Nike, Inc.)

  1997 - Present · 29 yrs 1 mo

  Beaverton, Oregon

  Architected the world’s first athlete-led billion-dollar sub-brand • Drove topline from $0 to $6.6 B (FY 2024) with 45% average gross margin and zero overtime buzzer-beaters • Launched 37 consecutive Air Jordan editions, sustaining 98% sell-through day-of and 1,200% secondary-market markup • Incubated signature-athlete roster (e.g., Luka, Tatum, Sabrina) and lifted Gen Z social sentiment +73% in 18 months

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  Principal Owner & Governor

  Charlotte Hornets

  2010 - Aug 2023 · 13 yrs 7 mos

  Charlotte, North Carolina

  Led hometown NBA franchise turnaround • Acquired controlling stake at $180 M; exited majority at $3.0 B—16.5× MOIC with minority equity for upside optionality • Implemented data-driven scouting rubric, boosting draft-hit rate from 11% to 38% and trimming payroll DDR 22% • Directed $25 M community-equity fund—triple-doubling ROI on goodwill

• 

  President of Basketball Operations & Shooting Guard

  Washington Wizards

  2000 - Apr 2003 · 3 yrs 3 mos

  Washington, D.C.

  Dual-hatted exec-athlete role modernizing org culture • Scored 40 + points at age 40 while mentoring young roster—boosting locker-room OKR “belief” 100% • Introduced analytics-adjacent scouting tech, cutting mistake-draft rate 14%

• 

  Shooting Guard · #45

  Chicago Bulls

  Mar 1995 - Jun 1998 · 3 yrs 3 mos

  Chicago, Illinois

  Returned to complete second three-peat • Added 3 more NBA titles (’96–’98) & Finals MVPs, compounding ring count to 6 and CAGR-of-clutch to ∞ • Headlined revenue surge propelling franchise valuation from $200 M to $1 B

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  Outfielder

  Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox AA)

  Feb 1994 - Oct 1994 · 8 mos

  Birmingham, Alabama

  Executed cross-industry pivot to baseball ops • Logged 51 RBIs & 30 SB—proving transferable grit metrics scale across verticals • Spiked MiLB attendance +130% YoY, moving 475 K tickets (and more hotdogs than Fenway)

• 

  Shooting Guard · #23

  Chicago Bulls

  Oct 1984 - Oct 1993 · 9 yrs

  Chicago, Illinois

  Engineered dynasty-ready culture • Captured 3 consecutive NBA titles (’91–’93), averaging 31.5 PPG and driving franchise EBITDA +312% • Garnered 3 MVPs and 7 scoring titles, escalating NBA global viewership 199% vs. pre-Jordan baseline

Education

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  University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  BS, Geography (completed 1986 while in the NBA)

  1981 - Jun 1984 · 3 yrs 5 mos

  Dean’s List • ACC Rookie of the Year • Hit a baseline KPI with 17 sec left to secure 1982 NCAA title—projecting a 9,000% uplift in freshman morale

Honors & awards

• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee

  Naismith Hall of Fame

  Issued Sep 2009

  Class of 2009—enshrined for redefining competitive advantage one fadeaway at a time

• Presidential Medal of Freedom

  White House

  Issued Nov 2016

  Recognized for athletic excellence & philanthropy—only medal I didn’t need a jumper for