Meet Tim Bryson | Black millennial educator-entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tim Bryson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tim, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
As an educator, I grew tired of constantly navigating antiquated systems and jumping through hoops to prove a vision that I deeply felt was from God. I knew there had to be a better way to create meaningful impact without being confined by rigid structures. That’s when I decided to start my own business. Becoming an entrepreneur allowed me to fully embrace my purpose, innovate without constraints, and provide the guidance and resources that institutions often struggle to offer and facilitate. As an educator-entrepreneur, I have the freedom to drive change both within and outside of the systems that currently exist, using my expertise to create new opportunities and empower others in ways that traditional higher education institutions and sport organization models simply don’t allow nor support. Starting Walk With TFB was a monumental step in my evolving purpose journey.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Walk With TFB is a Black owned consulting firm that helps athletes, higher education institutions, and brands with international college athlete (ICA) development, internationalization strategy, and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) education.

So what does this mean?

Our ICA development is focused on NCAA international athletes’ recruitment, retention, and career readiness. We create programming dedicated to support ICAs throughout their entire lifecycle in U.S. higher education, ultimately preparing them to secure employment in the U.S. or another country after their competition career comes to an end. We help higher education institutions and sport organizations enter new markets by developing tailored internationalization strategies that enhance global engagement, foster cross-border collaborations, and expand their global reach. We educate athletes on how to leverage their NIL to build entrepreneurial ventures that create both financial opportunities and lasting social impact.

Since our inception, we have accomplished several milestones. Our work has been endorsed by the Biden-Harris Administration, as we were 1 of 25 Black businesses selected to participate in the inaugural African Descendant Social Entrepreneurship Workshop in March 2023. As founder, I was selected to represent the U.S. as a Sport Diplomat at TIBU Africa’s 2023 Global Sports Entrepreneurship Week in Morocco. But I am most proud of our annual Internationalization and Athletics Summit – the world’s only convening exclusively focused on learning more about the relationship between internationalization and athletics.

Our work stemmed from my PhD research and has grown due to individuals around the world who believe in walking in purpose. Getting to this point has not been easy whatsoever. We are literally creating a new lane in both athletics and international education that has yet to exist. In many ways, we are a lean start-up – adjusting to evolving demands, interests, and market conditions, while staying agile to meet the needs of our clients.

As founder, I want the world to know that Walk With TFB believes that impossible does not exist. We believe internationalization in sport is happening and are dedicated to leading the way with decision making rooted in innovation, social justice, and diplomacy. We don’t fear the future, we are shaping it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Wow! This is a tough question because I am not a planner. LOL! I love live sporting events and craft beer, so my itinerary is going to lean that way. Here’s what a long weekend with TFB in Sandie would look like…Friday happy hour then Padres game – must stand center field at the Ballast Point Deck, then we’ll step out in Gaslamp with a late night stop at Tacos El Gordo. Saturday, we will recover at FairPlay watching CFB and EPL games in the morning, before rallying and starting a North Park brewery tour with a VIP stop at Original 40 (OG40!) Brewing Company for their spicy chicken sandwich. Saturday night?! Yeah, good luck. Sunday, we’re going to Pizza Port for their California Honey Blonde Ale and pepperoni pizza before relaxing at Solana Beach.

I definitely gotta throw the San Diego Zoo in there at some point… but fun fact: I have not been to the Sandie Zoo, yet.

My favorite restaurants in Sandie are Puesto and Sukho Tahi.

My favorite brewery is The Original 40 Brewery – s/o to Cory, Sarah, Lexie and Joey!

Other experiences I’d be sure to take my bestie would be to Sunset Cliffs, San Diego Wave game, and an SD Melanin event.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mama and grandma deserve all the credit for who and where I am today. Their unwavering faith, consistent prayers, and financial investment have been influential in creating environments for me to pursue what brings me joy at every stage of my educational and career journey. However, I’d also like to recognize Dr. Taylor Woodman (TW), my academic mentor, co-dissertation chair, and friend. My business is a result of the research I am doing in my PhD program at the University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. TW has consistently created opportunities for me to refine my work, encouraging me to think deeply about how my research can be a vehicle for policy change, consulting in practice, and influencing the future of international education and athletics. His guidance has been instrumental in shaping my educator-entrepreneur journey.

Website: https://www.WalkWithTFB.com

Instagram: @WalkWithTFB

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyfbryson/

Image Credits
Lee Rivers, Lee Rivers Digital Art

Otman Marzouki