Today we’d like to introduce you to Quinton Stephens
Hi Quinton, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Quinton Stephens is a multifaceted individual with a diverse background. As an Atlanta-native – his tenure as team captain (2x) for the Georgia Tech men’s basketball team, his professional basketball career in China, Italy, & Spain and his current leadership role with the Atlanta Hawks, specifically in their Community Impact & Basketball Programs department has positioned him to make a difference within the Atlanta community through sports and community outreach to drive impact both on and off the court.
Quinton is also the founder of Qurious Network, a company that empowers people to explore their curiosities. The company currently services restaurants and hotels through a unique hospitality tool he developed called smart coasters. These smart coasters enhance guest experiences by seamlessly integrating menus, promotions, payment options and more with a single tap of the guest’s smartphone. Qurious Network reflects Quinton’s entrepreneurial spirit and innovation in combining hospitality with technology to create value for businesses and their customers.
In summary, Quinton Stephens leverages his diverse background and creative spirit —from basketball captain to professional athlete and community leader — to drive impact both on and off the court. His presence on social media showcases different aspects of his professional journey, personal interests, and entrepreneurial ventures, highlighting his commitment to revolutionizing youth sports development, community engagement, and innovation in hospitality technology.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have chosen to take the road less traveled throughout my life. There are many instances that could have deterred me from achieving goals I set out for myself. A life-shifting moment was when I was told that the only way I would be able to attend college is by getting an academic or athletic scholarship, I was 9 years old. I responded by approaching both academics and basketball in a more serious manner.
After a successful high school career at Lakeside High School & Marist School, I accepted a full athletic scholarship to the Georgia Institute of Technology with the Men’s Basketball Team. After a workout during the summer of my 2nd season I found myself crying on the phone, telling my father “I don’t know what else I can do,” in frustration to my playing time. Being seen as a leader on a team, yet not being on the court contributing is a challenging space to be in. I decided to respond by improving myself off the court through reading books, both servant-leadership and self-development centered. As a result, I finished my last 2 seasons as the Men’s Basketball Team Captain & ultimately became a record-holder for ‘Most Games Played’ in school history.
Injuries have been scattered throughout my basketball career – 3 broken noses, dislocated elbow, broken finger, partially collapsed lung, torn-meniscus, & torn-patella tendon. Many of these injuries required surgery and a bunch of physical therapy. I have recovered from all of these injuries and attribute the resilience to continue playing to my teammates, family and especially Kobe Bryant, one of my idols to this day.
2020 challenged everyone on Earth – I found myself in my sisters basement living with my family to figure out what I wanted to do – considering the state of the world. I immersed myself into art and creative projects – launching an international campaign for artists around the world to send me their art that will be a part of a ‘touchless’ treasure hunt conducted on the Atlanta Beltline. This project caught the attention of a world-renowned and American civil-rights artist, Gilbert Young, who painted the famous “He Aint Heavy” image. Gilbert and I have launched a revolutionary project called The Art Of… Basketball
(you’ll hear and learn more about it when we officially launch after the 2024 election).
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
“Who am I becoming?” – is a question I have been reflecting upon recently. And realizing that who I am is not what I do, nor what I’m known for or what makes me unique… who I am is limitless and forever being created in this moment. And this moment.
I take pride in releasing myself from a title or job description and instead focus on approaching life through lenses of curiosity and wonder – ideally without judgement. I believe we are all just trying our best – the unfortunate part is that we live in a society that loves to label people, things and ideas that are often driven by money, status and the words “I,” “me,” “mine.”
I’d like to share an idea with you..
The exercise you’re about to do is how you can define “what I do.”
These are principles and concepts that when you approach life these ways you can also recognize the limitlessness of your presence.
Hold up five fingers – each finger represents a word in a phrase that you should say as often as possible.
“I Am Proud Of You.”
– Say this to the people in your life.
Now fold your thumb down.
“May I help you?”
– Don’t just barge in – every body is trying to find their way. As often as possible say this.
Now fold another finger down. – 3 word phrase – I bet you can guess what it is.
“I love you.”
-Say this as often as possible.
Fold another finger down.
“Thank you.”
– As often as possible say that.
Now fold another finger down. – This 1 word phrase is the most important of them all and will change how you approach/see the world.
– Go ahead take a few guesses.. and close your hand into a fist.
“We.”
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Practicing gratitude brings me to the present moment and in the present moment we are limitless.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.quriousnetwork.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icestephens/
