From Benin to Villanova, after more than a decade at the highest levels of basketball and an HEC Paris MBA, I now work at the intersection of investment, athlete transition and equal opportunity.
Mouphtaou Yarou
Elite sport taught me how to prepare, decide and respond under pressure. Today, I apply that discipline to investment, athlete transition and creating opportunity for the next generation.
From Villanova to professional basketball in Europe, more than a decade at the highest levels and the 2016 French Cup: an education in preparation, teamwork and resilience.
Finance at Villanova, followed by an HEC Paris MBA in Finance & Strategy: translating performance into disciplined decisions and long-term value.
Through MY BARIKA, connecting education, sport and leadership to create practical opportunities for young people in Benin.
Sport has a unique power to unite people. Founded in 2018, MY BARIKA uses basketball to educate, engage and create opportunity for young people in Benin and West Africa.
Scholarship programs and academic support to give young people the means to succeed. Partnerships with local schools and orphanages.
Basketball camps and annual tournaments to instill discipline, perseverance and teamwork.
Incubation, project support and conferences to prepare athletes for post-career life and support young entrepreneurs.
Partner with MY BARIKA to expand access to education, mentorship and sport-led development.
Contact usWhat elite sport, education, investment and community work continue to teach me about leadership and transition.
MY BARIKA was not born from a strategic plan. It was born from a debt: one I owe to a town, a mother and a ball.
What my mother's sewing workshop in Natitingou taught me about invisible work, long before Villanova and the professional courts.
An Achilles tendon, a silent phone, and the question every athlete eventually faces: who are you when the jersey comes off?
