TAKING FLIGHT:


• A hooper explores the different stages of a baller’s life.


• A doctor pulls back the curtain on neurosurgery.


• A baker proves that vegan food can be decadent and save the world.


• A former Eagle takes the mound for a team that’s the hottest ticket around.


Let’s meet these influencers and see how they’re uplifting others while building their brands.


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ALUMNI BECOME SOCIAL MEDIA STARS


After earning degrees in exercise science, the duo couldn’t decide what they wanted to do professionally. Anders entertained becoming a strength and conditioning coach; Bjorn, coaching. They offered their expertise at a basketball company, learned a lot and then thought, why not start our own?


They established Broman Academy in 2020 and make it a point to establish a relationship with every player.


Who would have thought Winthrop alumni have spread their wings on social media, racking up millions of followers and views on popular platforms such as Instagram and Tik Tok?


BJORN BROMAN ’17, ’19


Basketball player, coach, Broman Academy Tik Tok: @bjornbroman, 1.5 million followers Instagram: @bjornbroman13, 381K+ followers


Minnesota native Bjorn Broman believes that every basketball-loving kid’s dream is stepping onto the NBA All-Star court.


Broman lived that dream in 2025, when he was invited to the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities in California. He interviewed fellow content creators, met basketball stars, watched the game from prime seats and even participated on the court, winning one of the three-point shooting contests.


The dream can be traced back to kindergarten, when he and his brother, Anders Broman ’17, ’19, started playing the game. The pair played together from elementary school to the Winthrop Eagles basketball team. While playing in the NCAA tournament was certainly a highlight, “Just being able to do the whole basketball journey together as brothers was special,” Anders said.


“When you have a good relationship with your players, they are so much more open and willing to work hard and try new things,” Bjorn explained. “After that, we emphasize making practice harder than a game – overloading movements, so that when you get into a team practice or game, everything almost slows down and seems easier than training. Also, faith is very important to us, and we try to emphasize that with our players as well.”


Bjorn also builds those connections through his social media presence and laughed when asked if he ever thought he’d have 1.5 million followers and counting, calling it “a blessing.”


“I started social media at the beginning of COVID [2020], as there was nothing else to do, and it has blown up,” he said. “I’m constantly looking for new ideas and fun ways to entertain basketball players. It is a great challenge, and I really enjoy it!”


Bjorn’s content includes a series of skits chronicling a basketball player in his college years, moments from his pick-up games, and more.


As the audience grows, the brothers hope Broman Academy will grow too.


“We would love to keep expanding,” Anders said. “We have some great business mentors that pour into us as we are still learning so much every single day.”


ZAYED ALMADIDY ’12


Neurosurgeon, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Tik Tok: @dr.z_neurosurgery, 760K+ followers Instagram: @dr.z_neurosurgery, 625K+ followers


Zayed Almadidy considered neurosurgery one of the most complex topics he studied in medical school – which led to his desire to demystify it.


“I was drawn by the idea that we know so little about the nervous system,” he said. “I wanted to explore it further and master the brain and spine to the best of my ability. I am drawn by the uncertainty and the complexity.”


Originally from Fort Mill, Almadidy chose Winthrop for his undergraduate career for several reasons, including the campus, the social life, the extracurricular activities, cultural events and the robust STEM program “with strong chemistry and biology courses that are perfect for those interested in medicine.”


“All of that led me to my career as a neurosurgeon,” he said.


While at Winthrop, Almadidy earned a research fellowship and presented his work, “In Vitro Generation of Cu1+ Through Spontaneous Aqueous Processes,” at the Southeastern regional meeting of the American Chemical Society with faculty mentor Nick Grossoehme,


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