"Shaqeem Akbar-Downey grew up on the court and the field. Basketball and football were not hobbies. They were a daily routine. From an early age, he played for multiple teams and traveled across cities and states to compete. Those experiences shaped how he thinks about effort, teamwork, and focus. "Sports taught me how to show up every day," Akbar-Downey says. "You don't improve by talking. You improve by doing the work, even when no one is watching.""
"After attending Sir Wilfred Laurier High School, Akbar-Downey continued his education at St. Lawrence College. He studied culinary arts alongside business management. At first glance, the combination may seem unusual. For him, it made sense. "Culinary arts taught me precision and timing," he explains. "Business management taught me structure. You need both if you want results." Working in kitchens helped him understand systems, efficiency, and pressure. Business courses gave him the tools to manage people, processes, and outcomes. Together, they shaped how he approaches marketing today-with creativity guided by structure."
Shaqeem Akbar-Downey developed discipline and teamwork through competitive basketball and football, traveling to compete across cities and states. Daily training taught effort, focus, and the value of showing up even when no one is watching. Competing outside his neighborhood encouraged prioritizing education and long-term goals, and balancing training with school and travel built his foundation. He attended Sir Wilfred Laurier High School and studied culinary arts and business management at St. Lawrence College, learning precision, timing, structure, and systems. He now works in marketing and advertising, partnering with used car dealerships to build campaigns focused on qualified leads by understanding local markets, customer intent, and timing.
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