CEO Stories: Tiki Barber, Thuzio

He also is one of the founders of events company Thuzio, which like so many other businesses, had to rethink its business model during the pandemic.

LESSONS FROM THE FIELD

As someone who first studied engineering, then business, and came to professional football almost as an afterthought, Barber is a firm believer in never being afraid to try new things and having an open mind. He says the fast-paced nature of football and its win-lose mentality trained him to act quickly and be willing to move on and try new things – a necessity for being an entrepreneur.

PANDEMIC PIVOT

Barber and Thuzio co-founder Mark Gerson wanted to offer a way for people to have “live and unfiltered” experiences with those who shared their enthusiasm – hence the name “Thuzio.” Their selling point was intimate experiences: dinners with an athlete, a cooking lesson with an award-winning chef. The pandemic forced the company to explore virtual events, which are proving to be a scalable business that complements in-person offerings.

ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS

Whether it’s in sports, business, or his personal life, Barber says it comes down to relationships, because you never know the role people might play in your life. His partnership with Gerson came about because of his friendship with Gerson’s brother. One of the most gratifying things about writing the book series was the chance to honor his mother and is grateful to have reconciled with his father after a decades-long estrangement.