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Howard "H" White
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A star in high school and a standout point guard for the University of Maryland, Howard “H” White was an NBA draft pick until knee injuries put a stop to his basketball career. Undaunted, Howard put his other skills to use, eventually finding his way to Nike, Inc. Now vice president of Jordan Brand, he has been with the company for thirty-five years. With Nike’s support, he founded the “Believe to Achieve” program, an innovative traveling seminar designed to encourage youth to believe in themselves and adults to mentor them. A tremendous, charismatic public speaker, White’s passion and excitement for life moves adults and children alike. He lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon, with his wife Donna and daughter Mandy.
Many know Howard "H" White for the vital role he’s played in building the infamous Jordan Brand at Nike. But rather than tell H’s role in Jordan’s story, we want to give you an inside look at the life H is living in his own right. Philanthropy Playmakers sat down with H to learn more about his career, his Believe to Achieve mindset, and how he's been able to defy the odds at every turn.
The first words out of H's mouth are words to live by: "Some of the worst things that happen can turn into some of the best." When asked about his basketball career, H started from the beginning, telling how his father left his family when he was in high school, and they were forced to move in with his aunt in the middle of the woods. It was the start of integration, and as one can imagine, many areas were still incredibly racist. Yet, there was one high school - Kecoughtan High School - where H and his friends were allowed to play basketball. "One day, we walked into the gym, and there were some men shooting around; we weren’t sure if we could stay, but then they asked us if we wanted to play, so we did. As we were finishing up, one of the men asked me if I'd ever heard of Oscar Robinson, and I said yes, of course! Then he said, ‘If you listen to everything I tell you, you could be just like the Big O.’" H didn't need to hear another word; he went straight home, cut down a tree, dug a hole, and cashed in some glass bottles to buy a rim and a basketball. He was convinced that he could, in fact, be the next Oscar Robertson. By listening to Coach Jim Hathaway, H learned how to play the game and went on to become a high school All-American and Division 1 player.
That story was the first of several H told, all with the same lesson – "Listen with an extra ear! Listen to the little things, and you'll learn things that people don't even know they are teaching. I pride myself not just on hearing but on listening.” It started in that high school gym with Coach Hathaway. H took Hathaway seriously, and when he arrived to Maryland on scholarship, he donned a jersey with a simple “H” on the back just like the Big O. That same lesson in listening carried H through those high school basketball years all the way to VP of the Jordan Brand at Nike.
The first words out of H's mouth are words to live by: "Some of the worst things that happen can turn into some of the best." When asked about his basketball career, H started from the beginning, telling how his father left his family when he was in high school, and they were forced to move in with his aunt in the middle of the woods. It was the start of integration, and as one can imagine, many areas were still incredibly racist. Yet, there was one high school - Kecoughtan High School - where H and his friends were allowed to play basketball. "One day, we walked into the gym, and there were some men shooting around; we weren’t sure if we could stay, but then they asked us if we wanted to play, so we did. As we were finishing up, one of the men asked me if I'd ever heard of Oscar Robinson, and I said yes, of course! Then he said, ‘If you listen to everything I tell you, you could be just like the Big O.’" H didn't need to hear another word; he went straight home, cut down a tree, dug a hole, and cashed in some glass bottles to buy a rim and a basketball. He was convinced that he could, in fact, be the next Oscar Robertson. By listening to Coach Jim Hathaway, H learned how to play the game and went on to become a high school All-American and Division 1 player.
That story was the first of several H told, all with the same lesson – "Listen with an extra ear! Listen to the little things, and you'll learn things that people don't even know they are teaching. I pride myself not just on hearing but on listening.” It started in that high school gym with Coach Hathaway. H took Hathaway seriously, and when he arrived to Maryland on scholarship, he donned a jersey with a simple “H” on the back just like the Big O. That same lesson in listening carried H through those high school basketball years all the way to VP of the Jordan Brand at Nike.
(University of Maryland Archives)
H’s college career was plagued with knee injuries, and his spot was eventually filled by John Lucas who went on to become the first pick in the 1976 NBA draft. H was also drafted to the NBA, but playing wasn’t fun for him anymore, so he took a job coaching with Coach Lefty Driesell at Maryland. H recalled, “One of my best skills was recruiting, and that first year I was tasked with recruiting the great Moses Malone. He signed to come to Maryland but was drafted to the pros, so he never came to play for us.” Little did H know how much those relationships at Maryland would impact the rest of his life.
After a while, H left coaching for a corporate job, when he got a call from an old friend – John Lucas. Lucas told him that there was a job at a company in Oregon called Nike that he felt would be a perfect fit for H. Not long after, H accepted a job as a Nike field rep. His first client was none other than Moses Malone. “When I got hurt, I had a feeling that God had another plan for me other than playing in the pros. I would have never guessed that the player who took my spot would introduce to me to an opportunity that would bring me full circle back to Moses. And here I am 35 years later!”
Yet another leadership lesson from H, one he learned from his mother – “She told me, ‘Don’t ever walk by someone without saying hello. Even a dog wags its tail when it passes you on the street.’ I centered my entire life around that one little correction! I believe that everyone deserves to be acknowledged and understood.” H’s ability to connect with everybody, including Lucas and Malone, ultimately led to his biggest break.
As a Nike basketball field rep, H would support Nike’s basketball players on the East Coast. He had been working in that role for a while when the VP of Marketing called him up and told him to update his business card to just “Basketball” because he was capable of covering all things hoops. H started working with the likes of David Robinson and Charles Barkley, and soon after came Michael Jordan.
Once again, H’s favorite mantra shone through in his new responsibilities, particularly with repping Jordan – listening. “I truly believe that my upbringing, particularly listening and learning from my mom, made me great at my job. When my dad left, she never turned bitter, she always treated people with respect, she worked hard, and she gave me a glimpse of the kind of person I should be when I grew up.” As a result of everything he had gleaned from his mother, H became a trustworthy resource with, not only his players, but with his players’ mothers. They had faith that H would do what was best for their sons and look out for their families as they navigated the world of professional basketball. That kind of assurance propelled H into a successful career at one of the most recognizable brands in the world.
After a while, H left coaching for a corporate job, when he got a call from an old friend – John Lucas. Lucas told him that there was a job at a company in Oregon called Nike that he felt would be a perfect fit for H. Not long after, H accepted a job as a Nike field rep. His first client was none other than Moses Malone. “When I got hurt, I had a feeling that God had another plan for me other than playing in the pros. I would have never guessed that the player who took my spot would introduce to me to an opportunity that would bring me full circle back to Moses. And here I am 35 years later!”
Yet another leadership lesson from H, one he learned from his mother – “She told me, ‘Don’t ever walk by someone without saying hello. Even a dog wags its tail when it passes you on the street.’ I centered my entire life around that one little correction! I believe that everyone deserves to be acknowledged and understood.” H’s ability to connect with everybody, including Lucas and Malone, ultimately led to his biggest break.
As a Nike basketball field rep, H would support Nike’s basketball players on the East Coast. He had been working in that role for a while when the VP of Marketing called him up and told him to update his business card to just “Basketball” because he was capable of covering all things hoops. H started working with the likes of David Robinson and Charles Barkley, and soon after came Michael Jordan.
Once again, H’s favorite mantra shone through in his new responsibilities, particularly with repping Jordan – listening. “I truly believe that my upbringing, particularly listening and learning from my mom, made me great at my job. When my dad left, she never turned bitter, she always treated people with respect, she worked hard, and she gave me a glimpse of the kind of person I should be when I grew up.” As a result of everything he had gleaned from his mother, H became a trustworthy resource with, not only his players, but with his players’ mothers. They had faith that H would do what was best for their sons and look out for their families as they navigated the world of professional basketball. That kind of assurance propelled H into a successful career at one of the most recognizable brands in the world.
(University of Maryland Archives)
H, reflecting on his accomplishments, told us that he thinks people often aim too low. “Our expectations for what we can achieve are too low. Why not raise the bar and raise your expectations of how you see yourself in life? My life is a reflection of how I chose to see myself.”
Now, H devotes his life and career to helping others, particularly young people, to aim high and believe in themselves. Just like his mentors saw greatness in him, he champions others on their journeys. “So many people along the way have seen something that I couldn’t even see in myself. My role here at Nike and beyond has become to act as a mentor for people coming up – to help them recognize the force they have within themselves.” H believes that people listen to him because he listens to them; again, his golden rule.
Now, H devotes his life and career to helping others, particularly young people, to aim high and believe in themselves. Just like his mentors saw greatness in him, he champions others on their journeys. “So many people along the way have seen something that I couldn’t even see in myself. My role here at Nike and beyond has become to act as a mentor for people coming up – to help them recognize the force they have within themselves.” H believes that people listen to him because he listens to them; again, his golden rule.
(howardhwhite.com)
H continues, “Most of life is how you choose to see the obstacles.” The Believe to Achieve initiative is centered around three magic words – in spite of. H encourages people to speak over their lives, “’In spite of ______, I will succeed.’ In spite of any obstacles or challenges, I will rise above. Rather than thinking ‘Why me?’ think ‘Why not me?’” The shift in perspective, H says, will give you the power to overcome your circumstance. And often times, we need a helping hand to help us make the shift. H is the first to admit that his story cannot be told without telling the stories of the influential people in his life. Often, he is recognized for his connection to guys like Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, but even those superstars recognize H as a star mentor in their lives. H reiterates that you don’t have to be a celebrity to succeed and inspire. “When it comes to success stories, people are generally telling the exact same story but through their unique lens. That’s why telling your personal story is important! You never know who will connect with your experiences rather than the experiences of a pro athlete or major CEO.”
Our conversation with H left us feeling inspired, motivated, and grateful. His heart for others and can-do attitude is infectious, and he’s brought a special kind of energy to his work at Nike. His advice is timeless, and his life is testament to the incredible power of mentorship. H’s book, Believe to Achieve: See the Invisible, Do the Impossible, is full of more entertaining anecdotes about his mentors and is truly the helping hand people need to dream big and accomplish their goals. The book and his mentorship training program continues to help mentors effectively support young people all across the world. For more inspiration and information on Believe to Achieve, visit howardhwhite.com.
Our conversation with H left us feeling inspired, motivated, and grateful. His heart for others and can-do attitude is infectious, and he’s brought a special kind of energy to his work at Nike. His advice is timeless, and his life is testament to the incredible power of mentorship. H’s book, Believe to Achieve: See the Invisible, Do the Impossible, is full of more entertaining anecdotes about his mentors and is truly the helping hand people need to dream big and accomplish their goals. The book and his mentorship training program continues to help mentors effectively support young people all across the world. For more inspiration and information on Believe to Achieve, visit howardhwhite.com.
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