Today we’d like to introduce you to Champ Powell.
Hi Champ, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Champ Powell, and my journey has always been rooted in creativity, sports, leadership, and building opportunities that create lasting impact. From an early age, I developed a passion for design, athletics, and storytelling, which eventually evolved into multiple businesses and initiatives centered around youth development, branding, and community growth.
I began by independently creating graphics and visual content, constantly learning and refining my craft through real-world experience. What started as a creative passion grew into Designed By Champ, a branding and graphic design company focused on helping businesses, athletes, creatives, and organizations strengthen their image and presence through professional design and strategic visuals.
At the same time, I continued building within the sports and youth development space through Imperial Training, creating programs designed to help young athletes develop confidence, discipline, leadership, and mental resilience both on and off the court. As the vision expanded, I also launched Imperial Sports Agency, focused on athlete branding, exposure, development, and long-term opportunities for athletes looking to grow their platform and career potential.
Becoming a father added even more purpose to the work I do. It inspired me to begin creating children’s educational content and resources designed to positively impact youth development from an early age, including the beginning of the Tiny Champs children’s book series.
Today, everything I build operates around one mission: combining creativity, sports, education, and mentorship to help people elevate themselves personally and professionally. Whether through branding, athlete development, youth programs, or educational projects, I’m focused on creating platforms that leave a meaningful and lasting impact.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Like many entrepreneurs building from the ground up, a lot of my journey has involved learning through trial and error, adapting quickly, and continuing to push forward even during uncertain moments.
One of the biggest challenges was building multiple brands and platforms without having a blueprint or major backing behind me. In the early stages, I had to wear every hat — designer, marketer, strategist, communicator, and operator — while also trying to establish credibility and create opportunities at the same time. Balancing creativity with the business side of things was a learning process in itself.
Another challenge has been navigating growth while maintaining consistency. Whether it’s building Designed By Champ, expanding Imperial Training, or developing Imperial Sports Agency, each step has required patience, sacrifice, and long-term vision. There were moments where resources were limited, opportunities didn’t happen immediately, or ideas took longer to develop than expected — but those experiences helped strengthen my mindset and sharpen my approach.
I’ve also learned that building something meaningful requires resilience. Not everyone sees the vision early on, and there are always obstacles, setbacks, and pressure that come with entrepreneurship and leadership. But those experiences helped shape who I am today and taught me the importance of discipline, adaptability, and staying committed to the bigger mission.
Looking back, the struggles were necessary because they helped build the foundation, perspective, and work ethic behind everything I’m creating now.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Imperial Sports Agency was created to be more than a traditional sports agency — it was built as a development-focused platform designed to help athletes grow both on and off the field. Our mission is centered around athlete branding, exposure, mentorship, and long-term personal and professional development. We work with athletes to help them strengthen not only their performance, but also their confidence, image, opportunities, and overall direction.
What sets Imperial Sports Agency apart is that we take a holistic approach to athlete development. Many agencies focus strictly on recruitment or contracts, but we focus heavily on branding, mindset, discipline, presentation, and positioning athletes for long-term success beyond sports alone. We understand that today’s athletes are also brands, leaders, and influencers within their communities, so we help them build a foundation that can create opportunities far beyond competition.
We specialize in athlete branding, media development, creative content, exposure opportunities, mentorship, and strategic growth. Through connections across sports, design, media, and youth development, we’re able to help athletes present themselves professionally while building visibility and credibility in their respective spaces. Our background in branding through Designed By Champ also allows us to provide a creative and marketing perspective that many traditional sports organizations may not offer.
One thing I’m most proud of brand-wise is building an ecosystem that connects sports, creativity, mentorship, and community impact together. Imperial Sports Agency is not just about creating athletes — it’s about helping develop confident, disciplined, and marketable individuals who understand their value both during and after their athletic journey.
I want readers to know that our brand is built with purpose. Every program, service, partnership, and opportunity is designed to create meaningful impact, especially for young athletes who may need guidance, structure, exposure, or belief in their potential. We’re continuing to grow with a vision focused on empowerment, professionalism, and creating opportunities that genuinely change lives.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
One thing I appreciate most about Baltimore is the culture, resilience, and creativity that exists throughout the city. Baltimore has a strong sense of identity — from its sports culture and local businesses to its art, music, fashion, and community pride. There’s a lot of talent here, and what stands out to me is how many people are building, creating, and finding ways to make an impact despite challenges. The city has an underdog mentality that creates drive, authenticity, and ambition, which I relate to personally as an entrepreneur and creative.
I also appreciate the sense of community and opportunity to make a real difference. Through youth development, athletics, branding, and mentorship, I’ve seen firsthand how much potential exists within Baltimore’s younger generation. There are so many talented athletes, creatives, and future leaders who just need the right guidance, resources, and opportunities to grow.
At the same time, one of the more difficult parts about Baltimore is seeing how much untapped potential can go unsupported due to limited resources, exposure, or access to opportunities in certain communities. There’s incredible talent in the city, but not everyone has the same access to mentorship, development programs, or positive environments that can help them fully maximize their abilities.
That’s part of what motivates me with the work I do through Imperial Sports Agency and my other platforms — helping create opportunities, structure, and visibility for young people who may not always have access to those things otherwise. I believe Baltimore has a tremendous future because of its people, and I think continued investment in youth, entrepreneurship, education, and community development can make an even bigger impact moving forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://imperialsports.carrd.co
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/imperialsportshq
- Twitter: https://x.com/iamchamppowell
