Brewing Change: An NBA Icon's Journey with Purpose

Dikembe Mutombo, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, made a important shift in his life when he moved to the U.S. His initial goal was to pursue a career in medicine, but basketball had other plans for him as he entered the NBA.

Standing tall at 7’2”, this All-Star center left an indelible mark on the league over his remarkable 18-year career and earned a spot in the Hall of Fame in 2015. However, Mutombo’s passions went far beyond just basketball. In 2020, alongside seasoned entrepreneur Robert Bush, he launched Mutombo Coffee with a mission to establish an ethical supply chain for coffee sourced from Africa and Latin America. Their aim was not only to provide quality coffee but also to ensure fair wages for farmers—many of whom were women who had long been overlooked despite their hard work. they branded it as “coffee with purpose.” Yet, their journey wasn’t without challenges; they faced hurdles like the COVID-19 pandemic hitting right as they were getting started. Tragically, Dikembe passed away at just 58 due to brain cancer last year. In this episode, we chat with CEO bob Bush about how they navigated through such tough times and how sales are thriving as they plan to reach consumers directly instead of just focusing on B2B sales. The spirit of Dikembe Mutombo continues to inspire us all! Hosted by Bob Bowman from SupplyChainBrain.

Show notes:

 Video: Discovering Mutombo’s “Coffee mission.”