The best way Gbemisola Abudu describes getting to her position is by divine orchestration. As the NBA Africa Vice President and Country Head of NBA Nigeria, she says her love basketball dates back to her high school days. “I fell in love with basketball when I was the hardcore Kobe Bryant fan,” she tells ESSENCE smilingly.
“When I went to high school in California, I had no idea and no interest of pursuing a career in it. My plan was to become a lawyer I went to undergrad, worked at Disney, worked at a law firm. But during that time, there’s no way I can talk about life without saying, .
” After spending time in college growing her love of basketball by attending games, making friends with the players, one urged her to think about a career in the space. “I dismissed it,” she says. “I had my sights set elsewhere.
” After earning her MBA from Thunderbird University, Abudu found herself being recruited by the CEO of Louis Vuitton, North America and went to work on in the luxury space for some time. After finding success there, she ultimately, then shortly after her beloved father passed away, prompting a huge shift in her life. “He always wanted me to move back to Nigeria,” she tells ESSENCE.
” And it was during that transition back to the country that my conversation with the NBA actually started. I just kept being pulled back, and this time, I allowed myself to go in that direction to at least learn more about what that could look like.” She didn’t hop.