Charles Smith

Charles Smith Jr. has made significant strides beyond his illustrious career in professional basketball. As the Executive Director of the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA), Smith speaks on topics including industry growth, financial disciplines, and business solutions using sports analogies. His expertise in non-profit management, marketing, entrepreneurship, technology, and sales is widely recognized. Smith has raised over $6 million in angel and institutional financing for various business ventures and owns a patent for a customizable software application built on open standards in Content Management.

A former professional basketball player with a 10-year NBA career, Smith played for teams like the Clippers, Knicks, and Spurs. His athletic prowess was evident early on, as he was a US Olympian at Seoul, Korea in 1988 and was the Big East Player of the Year in 1987-1988. His college jersey number (#32) is retired at the University of Pittsburgh, where he remains the all-time leading scorer and shot blocker. These athletic achievements provide a compelling foundation for his keynote speaking topics, which include "Set Goals and Expect Victory," "Sports and Business; Uniquely the Same, but Different," and "Game 6 - Raising the Bar."

Smith has participated in discussions at prestigious forums including the Forbes CEO Forum, Nike, ESPN, G.E., and the Milken Institute. His recent engagement discussing entrepreneurship and its characteristics highlighted his ability to engage with teenage audiences through a freestyle question and answer session, demonstrating his aptitude for interactive speaking engagements. This ability to connect and communicate effectively makes him a sought-after speaker across various platforms.