Sam Ibrahim: President @ Arrow Group Companies, Entrepreneur, Innovator, and Community Champion

Sam Ibrahim, a proud native of Scarborough, Ontario, embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship, innovation, and community upliftment. After immigrating from Egypt to Canada with his family in the 1980s, Sam graduated from the University of Toronto Scarborough. At just 26, he founded the Arrow Group of Companies—a diverse conglomerate of over 20 businesses spanning scientific research, finance, staffing, health and wellness, sports, and professional basketball. Today, Arrow Group is one of Canada’s largest private enterprises, with operations across four continents and more than 10,000 employees.

Sam’s professional expertise extends across multiple fields. A seasoned leader in professional services, he has hands-on experience with over 50 Fortune 500 companies, overseeing multi-million-dollar projects. His background includes expertise in recruitment, HR policies and procedures, data collection, and both qualitative and quantitative research. As Sam puts it, he is passionate about "new economy projects that will propel our firm to the next level."

In alignment with his vision for empowering local entrepreneurs, Sam recently donated $25 million to the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus to establish the Sam Ibrahim Centre of Inclusive Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Leadership. The center is designed to help individuals build businesses and foster community growth.

Beyond his corporate endeavors, Sam shares a passion for sports. He founded The Playground, the world’s largest private network of basketball facilities and the leading basketball employer in Canada, rivaling even the Toronto Raptors. His love for the arts also led him to revitalize the East York Masonic Temple into a vibrant live performance venue and instructional space for aspiring performers.

Sam’s philosophy of success is rooted in unconventional thinking: "See where the crowd is moving and go the other way." This bold mindset has driven his achievements, fostering innovation and forward-thinking strategies that define his leadership style.

A devoted father of two, Sam continues to balance his entrepreneurial ventures with community engagement, arts, and philanthropy. His legacy serves as a testament to the power of entrepreneurship, showing how business can be a force for transformation and social impact.