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PrintCatching up with … Matthew Wilburn King, change and explorations officer for UPsidEo
Then: Born in Tulsa in 1974; attended Memorial High School and The University of Tulsa; received his master’s degree from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, England; has completed expeditions to more than 25 countries; U.S. Presidential Management Fellow under the Clinton Administration from 1999 to 2001; worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of International Activities from 2001 to 2007.
Now: 35 years old; change and explorations officer for Boulder, Colo.-based UPsidEo LLC, a company created in 2007 to aid visionaries, philanthropists and entrepreneurs in meeting their goals; teaches a course on global commodities, sustainable development and conflict at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
How did you come up with the concept of UPsidEo? We wanted to create a company that focused directly on those individuals creating positive societal changes through social entrepreneurship and philanthropy. As we move into a post-materialist culture, where people are more interested in experience, meaning and honest careers that lead to positive societal and environmental changes, we thought, hey, let’s help those folks.
What inspired you to choose your current career? After working for the federal government and academia, I was most inspired by the people in philanthropy, social entrepreneurship and nonprofits who were more effectively addressing critical social and environmental challenges.
Why are you passionate about social and environmental issues? We are one people, on one planet! Whether it’s empowering people in local communities or focusing on their environmental well-being, I think the private sector has a responsibility to do business better in the U.S. or abroad. A lot of companies want to do the right thing, but they’re not quite sure how to do it — that’s where UPsidEo helps leaders create a bigger impact.
What were your favorite things about Tulsa growing up? The woodlands and wetlands adjacent to my neighborhood were always my favorite refuge. Parts of Tulsa are beautiful, but it has been poorly planned and developed over the last three decades. So, I was always happy to get away from the urban blight, massive billboards, minimal green space and find myself in the woods around Tenkiller, Fort Gibson or Keystone lakes.
King, a distinguished alumnus lecturer in politics and law, will be speaking at The University of Tulsa’s McFarlin Library, room 3220, at 6 p.m., March 3. The lecture, “From God and Oil into the Forest: An Okie's Journey Beyond ,” will focus on King’s adventures abroad and the impact these trips have had on his life. The event is open to the public. For more information, call 631-2244.
For more information on UPsidEo, visit www.upsideo.com.
