Dikembe Mutombo spent a career rejecting some of the NBA’s biggest stars, but these days he’s more focused on swatting away inequities in the global coffee market.
The Hall of Famer has seen these injustices firsthand in his native country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where farmers have little to no input on the distribution and sale of its valuable coffee beans. Mutombo was determined to improve fair-trade practices, which is why he launched his own coffee company, Mutombo Coffee.
The former Atlanta Hawks star hopes this move will provide economic sustainability to poor farming communities in Africa — especially women farmers, who sometimes climb miles above sea-level to pick the most valuable beans.
“I want to be their voice,” Mutombo told Atlanta Business Chronicle. “African farmers, women in particular, are not represented. So, I can be their voice and speak (up) and make sure they’re getting a proper share. I also want people to know that they need to invest in these women.”
Mutombo, 54, has been involved in various business ventures since retiring from basketball in 2009.
