Sam Ibrahim: Son of Scarborough makes and gives millions

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Many decry the poverty and lack of opportunities for young people in Scarborough, a suburb in east Toronto.

But Sam Ibrahim, who grew up in Scarborough to run what he calls “Scarborough’s first and only billion-dollar company,” is working to change this.

Ibrahim, the president of Scarborough-based Arrow Group of Companies, recently donated $25 million to create the Sam Ibrahim Centre of Inclusive Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership at the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus.

“I think the fastest and most effective way to uplift a community is through entrepreneurship. Educating and training future entrepreneurs in Scarborough and expecting them to stay and build their business in Scarborough is the hope of the new Sam Ibrahim Centre,” he says.

Sam Ibrahim’s family immigrated from Egypt to Canada in the 1980s. He himself is an alumnus of the University of Toronto Scarborough, who at 26 founded what became the Arrow Group of Companies. Arrow Group encompasses more than 20 companies with a range of interests, including human resources consulting and staffing, research and polling, health care, sports and entertainment. It employs more than 10,000 people and operates on four continents.

Ibrahim also co-founded the Scarborough Shooting Stars, a professional basketball team that plays at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre in Toronto’s east end.

Ibrahim’s other philanthropic interests include a local academy to train young actors and produce events for the local community.

Here, Ibrahim shares his journey from a young hustler coming from a “challenging environment” to community leader.

What are your memories of growing up in Scarborough, and how did those formative years contribute to your sense of entrepreneurship?

“I grew up in the Markham and Lawrence area of Scarborough, in a Toronto community housing neighbourhood. It was challenging environment but I learned to be resourceful.

I learned a bit of hustler’s spirit and I watched my dad work long hours, seven days a week. I learned the importance of accountability, resilience and hard work. No one was coming to save us and that mentality still shapes me now.”

When you first felt that entrepreneurial spark, who was your support system or a mentor?

“At the time my best friend pushed me into entrepreneurship. He saw something in me I didn’t see in myself. Also, my co-worker who became my partner and lifelong friend was an early champion and mentor for me.”

What brought you to form Arrow Group?

“Primarily I liked what I was doing in human resources and recruitment, but I didn’t like how the company I was working for at the time was doing it. I really thought a more local focus was needed.

We started Arrow Workforce – that was the first company in the group – the one that snowballed into 30 companies, ranging from research, to health care, sports and entertainment.”

What challenges did you face along the way, and what do you consider the company’s greatest triumphs?

“My biggest challenge was access to capital. Also, starting in the 2008 financial meltdown did not help.

I can’t point to one triumph; we have had so many. We had a successful U.S. expansion; we built the largest polling company in the world; we built the largest industrial labour company in Canada; we are Scarborough’s first and only billion-dollar company… They are all incredible accomplishments.

Staying in business through all the ups and downs, pushing through and never retreating, never looking back; that is our greatest triumph, not really what we did, but what we constantly never did, which was give up.”

You recently donated $25 million to the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus for the establishment of Sam Ibrahim Centre of Inclusive Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership. Why was that important to you?

“I think the fastest and most effective way to uplift a community is through entrepreneurship. Educating and training future entrepreneurs in Scarborough and expecting them to stay and build their business in Scarborough is the hope of the new Sam Ibrahim Centre.

Trying to teach people to fish and, once they learn, to feed their local community is the goal and I am so excited about the new centre.”

“I want this to be a hub for new entrepreneurs and the leaders of today and tomorrow. Using inclusiveness as the foundation for entrepreneurial excellence is my core belief and I hope this centre establishes these core values.”

Can you share with us any upcoming projects with Arrow Group that you’re excited about?

We are aiming to build Scarborough’s first arena by 2026.

We are also continuing to expand our staffing business in Europe, and we recently opened our first polling office in Vietnam.”

Can you also share with us any upcoming or evolving philanthropy initiatives you’re excited about?

“I am excited about expanding my philanthropic initiatives into education, local community and the arts.

We have recently established the Don Arts Academy, where we are training aspiring actors and producing events for the local community.

I’m also excited about furthering our connection with University of Toronto and continuing our work in the community through basketball and boxing.”

Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.

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