Black Enterprise Magazine's 2023 40 UNDER 40 LIST, features an illustrious group of young Black leaders making waves in their respective industries and the world at large. Olajuwon Ajanaku '12 and Earl Cooper '11 are bringing the culture to the golf course through their groundbreaking lifestyle apparel brand, Eastside Golf. The duo teed off the line to boost awareness about the sport among youth, non-golfers, and people of color.
"Driven by purpose and passion, this dynamic roster of disruptors, innovators, and change agents has blazed a pathway to power and success before their 40th birthdays. Some have demonstrated extraordinary creative talent and business prowess, while others lend their voice to amplify Black stories or are dedicated to creating social change. Collectively, they are changing the world at local, national, and global levels.
"They are entrepreneurs, artists, corporate executives, athletes, entertainers, and activists. Working to make society fairer and more equitable, they represent the best of this generation.
"Their collection is marked by a striking logo: a young Black man in a sweatshirt, jeans, and a thick gold chain swinging a golf club. Since its launch in 2020, Eastside Golf has landed major partnerships with Mercedes-Benz, Citi, and the NBA. The brand also debuted a six-part docuseries on Hulu, collaborated with Nike to create nine exclusive sneakers for the Jordan Brand, and gained a slew of celebrity supporters like Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, and DJ Khaled.
"Ajanaku, the brainchild of Eastside Golf, left his corporate career in finance to pursue entrepreneurship, birthing Eastside Golf as a beacon of inspiration and change. Joined by Cooper, a PGA professional and esteemed golf teacher, the business partners became friends at Morehouse College, where they played on the same golf team and won a National Championship together. Eastside Golf projects to hit the $10 million revenue threshold in 2024, up from $1 million in 2020. Ajanaku attributes the firm’s success to “being authentic to ourselves by bringing golf to culture.”
Tag(s):
Alumni Achievement