Tomas Yu
Early 2014, the US based organization World MMA Council merged with World MMA Association | after two years of failed attempts for a collaboration with the WBC.
Few organizations not just in MMA recognize the value of progressive leadership. Yu, however, saw endless potential. It was his first goal in the culture of the MMA industry, to marry his education and past experience with some of the organization’s key goals, he was able and ready to perform as the first President of the WMMAA Pan-American Division, which has broadened its reach from North America to Latin America, and the Caribbean—an accomplishment that is a direct result of the Yu’s foresight and determination.
Yu has always had a clear vision and a very unique connection in his communication style. You can’t just see his passion, you can feel it. Yu communicates his vision in a way that gives people something to believe in.
«Your team has to know you’re being honest and straightforward with them and Athletes have to know that the goals they’re working toward are part of a larger vision that benefits everyone. I think that some of these attributes can be learned with experience, but personally, I’ve found that everyone has an inherent skill set. Everyone has particular attributes that work for them and when you learn how to emphasize those attributes and build on them, that’s when real success can happen», said Yu.
Since «The Patron» was appointed, The Pan-American Division has grown by more than 200 percent and he has been credited with expanding the organization’s reach into the global markets.
The last two years of building, Yu has focused on three things «structure, structure, structure» he has developed financial models through data mining to result with value proposition that proved to be transformational and has set the standard for how we would proceed. He has came up and introduced core business principles in a sport environment, like how to drive organizational value, how to best integrate athletes, how to provide a flexible showcase of talent, etc. Once he set the agenda, everyone in the organization had a very clear focus.
«When it came to reaching the global market, it was almost like we were playing offense and defense at the same time», said Yu.
While meeting the needs domestically, he also had to recognize their international business needs. During this process Yu recognized the need for global leaders, so he scouted for an adequate university partner to help develop the very first Bachelor’s, Master’s degree in history, and now to be launched worldwide this December «Combat Sports Administration» to create the future professional talent to represent each other internationally.
Today we have a simple approach in growing our reach; we are not about growth for the sake of growth. It’s simply not in our strategy.
This past 9-11-15 the WMMAA Pan-American Division honored and celebrated its newest Word Alliance with Battle Brotherhood. Both organizations recognize and salute all combat military families who, like their loved ones in uniform, serve and sacrifice so much so that we can live in freedom and security. This is a challenge to every segment of every society not to simply say thank you but to mobilize, take action and make a real commitment to support military families worldwide, said Yu.
Project march Battle Brotherhood and World MMA Association will go together through sport to veterans and active service after war rehabilitated qualitatively included in society. Former and future soldiers can be champions once again.
The World MMA Association has been privileged to be working with an entrepreneur of this magnitude, taking the organization to new levels. Today there is no martial art organization or for that matter any sport organization that has developed and implements that value proposition to the sport itself but also to society. Tomas Yu through WMMAA Pan-American Division is the first to work with departments/ministers of sport, tourism, education and of defense before working with the private market.
For many multicultural and young people in business, the glass ceiling still exists, but Tomas is a young progressive leader who’s shattered it.
Every position, whether you’re young or old, has its obstacles. To be honest, I try not to spend too much time thinking about how I’m a young leader running an organization and how rare that is. What works for me and what I would recommend is focusing on the task at hand; how you can fulfill your obligations, and support your organization as well as your team. If you can state your case clearly and show concrete examples of your hard work, you will get noticed. I’m not saying I didn’t face challenges or that getting here was easy, because it wasn’t, but the best thing about the glass ceiling is that it’s glass. It may not shatter the first time you try, but it will eventually if you keep on punching.
We welcome everyone to join us an celebrate International MMA day this October 1st, and celebrate the sport of battle and honor the brotherhood and respect that the sport promotes.
I’m Tomas Yu and this is MY WAY
