December 16, 2024 — The Associates of the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba announced its International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) recipient for 2025, Steve Young.
Young, a decorated student-athlete, an NFL Hall of Fame quarterback, Co-founder and Chairman of private equity firm Hunstman Gay Global Capital (HGGC) and Founder and Chair of the Forever Young Foundation was chosen as an exceptional entrepreneur combining athletic excellence, business success and philanthropic leadership.
If Super Bowl MVP and NFL Hall of Fame inductee aren’t enough, 2025 IDEA recipient Young has torn up the business field as Co-founder and Chairman of HGGC, a private equity firm with over $8 billion under management. In addition to breaking countless NCAA and NFL records, launching a successful private equity firm, he has raised millions for numerous philanthropic endeavors.
“IDEA Co-Chair Ash Modha [BA/98], Co-founder and CEO Mondetta, and I had the opportunity recently to sit down with Steve and what struck us most was how he embodies and personifies all of the hallmarks of an incredible leader and very special person. The Associates are about connecting the world’s greatest entrepreneurs and tapping into their life experience to share and inspire our current business community along with the next generation of leaders in Manitoba,” says Paul Soubry [BComms(Hons)/84] NFI Group Inc. President and CEO, and Chair of IDEA. “With all Steve has accomplished, we were impressed by how humble he was. He is a unicorn – an exceptional athlete, a successful business leader and yet what he seems most proud of is the impact he has and can make for his community and the world.”
Young broke 13 NCAA college football records and was recognized as one of the top five student athletes in the United States. He went on to become a Hall of Fame NFL quarterback who dedicated over fifteen years to professional football, predominantly with the San Francisco 49ers winning three Super Bowls and earning seven Pro Bowl selections. He earned numerous accolades, including being named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXIX and receiving the NFL’s Most Valuable Player awards in 1992 and 1994. He held the record for the highest quarterback rating in NFL history and remains the only quarterback to clinch four consecutive NFL passing titles.
Following his football career, Young transitioned into work as an ESPN analyst and a best-selling author. He evolved again moving into the world of private equity co-founding HGGC Capital, establishing himself as a notable business leader. He also founded and currently Chairs the Forever Young Foundation, an organization involved in supporting children’s charities globally. He is a former International Spokesperson for the Children’s Miracle Network, where more than a billion dollars has been raised to aid children’s hospitals worldwide.
“Imagine scoring the game winning touchdown in every aspect of life – from sport to business to community. Steve Young doesn’t need to imagine it. He lives it,” shares RBC Regional President Kim Ulmer and IDEA 2025 Platinum Partner. “Whether navigating the gridiron, negotiating financial markets, or exploring how to make this world a better place, Steve Young has done so with an excellence, enterprising spirit and a compassionate heart.”
“We are honoured that Steve Young will be on our campus. From a student athlete, a champion in sports to becoming a champion for others in business and philanthropy, he continues to inspire people on and off the field,” says Michael Benarroch, UM President and Vice-Chancellor.
IDEA 2025 will take place on May 21, 2025, at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
About the Associates at the Asper School of Business:
The Associates are proud leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs moving the Manitoba economy forward. Comprising 370 senior executives, the Associates have been a driving force since 1982, advancing business education at the I.H. Asper School of Business. The Asper students are linked to the business community through mentorship programs, ongoing networking events and philanthropy. Giving back to the Asper School of Business and business community are the hallmark attributes of the Associates.