Four-time Grand Slam Tennis Champion Naomi Osaka has co-founded her own production company, Hana Kuma, and a female athletic-centric talent agency, EVOLVE, alongside her business partner Stuart Duguid.
Osaka and Duguid recently sat down with Yahoo Finance’s Alexandra Canal as part of Yahoo Finance Invest to delve into Osaka’s transition from the tennis court to the boardroom, brand partnerships, and endorsement deals. The conversation brought to light some intriguing insights.
When asked about her business journey, Osaka shared, “Hana Kuma, it sees things from my lens, so we’ve been really fortunate to have guidance from Mav (Maverick Carter) and LeBron (James), and see their input on things. I think it’s been really important in navigating through that world.”
Duguid also weighed in on brand partnerships and the value of equity deals, stating, “I think they’ve seen that, if you’re going to spend a year, two years giving yourself to a brand and helping it grow, you want to participate in some of the upside that’s not just cash.”
The video highlights include timestamps such as Osaka discussing her business journey, Duguid’s take on athletes growing business empires, Osaka’s perspective on signing endorsement deals, and Duguid’s insights on the same topic.
In the video transcript, Osaka emphasized, “My career as an athlete isn’t as long as I would want it to be. So it’s good just to explore different avenues and also everything that we’ve created is things that I’m very, very into and excited about. So it’s all coming from an organic place.”
Both Osaka and Duguid discussed the importance of authenticity and genuine passion when it comes to brand partnerships and endorsements. They highlighted the significance of having a direct line to the top and being able to fully support the products or brands they are associated with.
The conversations with Osaka and Duguid shed light on the evolving landscape of athlete brand partnerships and the increasing interest in equity deals and business ventures.
To watch the full interview and delve deeper into the discussion, click the “Story continues” button below.
Jessica Roberts serves up the latest in the world of tennis. With a love for the racket sport, she reports on tennis matches, player rankings, and Grand Slam events, ensuring readers stay informed about the tennis world.
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