All Access – Kojo Mensah-Bonsu Part 2

In part two of our all-access episode with Kojo Mensah-Bonsu, we get straight back into it, taking stock of his story so far, where he is now finally living out his dream of playing Division I basketball at a top-tier university. A late pre-season injury put Kojo out of the game of basketball but into the game of life, where he learned some enduring lessons about being thoughtful and understanding people’s true intentions. 

As we discussed in part one, Kojo has always understood his role serving others and the greater good, and this is clear in the way he has lifted his siblings up and paved the way for them. His devotion to helping his brother, Pops, make it to the NBA highlights his abundant mindset and the pride he takes in seeing his loved ones win. One of those nearest and dearest to him is his wife, Noel, whose will and focus continue to blow Kojo away. We hear about how their love story and the universal forces that brought them together. Kojo also, bravely, shares the story of his son, Noah’s passing, the impact that this had on him, and how they keep his memory alive today. 

Moving over to his professional life and his transition from basketball to the professional world, we discover the tough lessons Kojo learned about asking for help and how his arrogance got in his way. Learning to be a student and seek out help has been a game-changer in propelling him forward. Towards the end of this incredible discussion, Kojo reflects on his main takeaways, including holding onto your dreams at all costs, not allowing faith and fear to exist in the same space, and the importance of being self-aware. Wrapping up, we ask, “What Would You Do?”, where we hear Kojo’s take on humbling yourself to get to the top. Don’t miss out!

Key Points From This Episode:
·    Recapping Kojo’s story that he shared in the previous episode.
·    The story of getting injured at the end of pre-season training and what Kojo learned from this.
·    The zero-sum game of being driven by fear, shame, and anger.
·    Why Kojo felt so strongly about being a mentor and a role model.
·    Main takeaways from Coach Eastman’s book, Why The Best Are The Best.
·    Advice that changed the way Kojo played.
·    How Kojo views his loved ones’ success as an extension of himself.
·    Some of the positive outcomes of the pandemic for Kojo, like more quality time with his wife.
·    Unpacking the Mensah-Bonsu family dynamic and how they uplift one another.
·    The impact that Kojo had on his brother, Pops, and how it helped him get to the NBA.
·    Kojo’s mother, Rev. Agnes’s approach to prayer based on biblical principles.
·    The story of meeting and ultimately marrying Noel and what Kojo admires about her.
·    Getting recruited to IT sales and transitioning into the business world.
·    Being blessed with twin boys, their incredible birth story, and the test of faith.
·    Losing his son, Noah, and the first year of Miles, Kojo’s other twin’s life.
·    When Kojo realized his basketball career was over and how he felt about it.
·    Not doing well in the corporate world and the difficulties Kojo had being mentored.
·    Moving from Chicago, and thriving at his job by truly listening to what people need.
·    The negative way Kojo’s approach to competition manifested.
·    The ‘What You Know About’ segment: Getting Kojo to respond to comments from his family.
·    Kojo’s takeaways reflecting on his life story, including the importance of dreams.
·    Some of the influential people in Kojo’s life he wishes to acknowledge.
·    Mistakes Kojo made in his past and resolving them in the present.
·    Sending love to Noah, his son who passed, and being a good father to Noah’s siblings.
·    What Would You Do: Can you humble yourself enough to start at the bottom to get to your dream?