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After 30 years in a very successful finance career, Tom Matthesen (Bachelor鈥檚 degree in Business/Finance, class of 鈥�85) made a career change and became president of a social enterprise business, called听, in early 2016. THRIVE Farmers provides farmers globally with stable, predictable pricing using an innovative supply chain model that eliminates the influence of the volatile commodity market price. THRIVE has recently received a lot of recognition, including:

• Inc. Magazine ranked THRIVE Farmers , an exclusive ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies.

• The Association for Corporate Growth in Atlanta named THRIVE Farmers the .

Tom was a founding board member since THRIVE鈥檚 inception in 2011 until his transition to president. We recently interviewed Tom to learn more about THRIVE, corporate social responsibility and how CU influenced Tom in his career.

Why did you decide to make the shift from a career in finance to one in social responsibility?

Throughout my career, in both for profit and non-profit organizations, I have learned about the integral role business plays in creating and ultimately sustaining true social impact. Companies create lasting change when they offer solutions to systemic problems. In the past few years, instead of simply engaging in philanthropy, my interest has shifted to giving the people who usually receive donations more than just monetary support. I want to equip them with tools to economically sustain their own families, independent of outside support.听

So, when THRIVE Farmers founder Michael Jones introduced me to his business concept, I was captivated by the opportunity to use business for something more than profits. This business model was too important and too powerful to ignore. He enlisted me to help draft the first business plan, the formation of the company and capital base. I quickly realized how rewarding it was to use my gifts and experience in finance and as an entrepreneur to help lead听and grow THRIVE Farmers, and in turn, change coffee farming communities throughout the world.

After serving as Chairman of the Board for more than 3 years, I finally had the opportunity to jump full-time into Thrive Farmers with my new role as president.

Since that time, I have been so blessed to drive a high-growth business while legitimately changing lives. I鈥檝e discovered through THRIVE that you can build impact directly into a company through a model that benefits others. The beautiful thing is that the better we perform as a business, the more impact we have on the farmer. The better the farmers does, the better the community does. Once a farmer has financial stability through a stable, predictable income, he or she can shift focus to investing in his or her business and improve product yields and financial margins through the purchase of new equipment or raw materials. What a great model!听

Our business model offers a more beneficial option to everyone involved. The stakeholders create a more holistic approach to corporate social responsibility by incorporating purposeful purchasing into everyday budgets. The farmer receives access to a stable, predictable, higher income by aligning with the consumers. And, finally, the customer receives a higher-quality product with the satisfaction of knowing who grew his coffee and that his purchase has given the farmer听the ability to live well and thrive! 听

What do you think the future holds for sustainable businesses globally?

The idea of sustainable business is still young. Consumers continue to demand increased transparency from businesses not only in supply chains but also in the way people are cared for in every level of business. The day is coming in which businesses will not be able to simply market corporate social responsibility but will need to demonstrate action and data that support their messages. Corporations will have to move from half-hearted philanthropic initiatives to a restructured approach that considers sustainability in every decision.

Technology and social media give voice to the consumers calling for increased transparency from businesses. As a result, corporations are now giving credence to the issue by creating the Chief Sustainability Officer position, especially in larger, progressive companies, which takes a true seat at the executive table. This trend encourages me. I anticipate more and more businesses will find that you can drive positive social change without damaging shareholder wealth, and as they do, producers and consumers will experience a more sustainable economy, environment, society and world.

Did you learn about corporate social responsibility during your time at the Leeds School of Business, and if so, how did it shape you as a businessman?

I don鈥檛 believe the phrase 鈥渃orporate social responsibility鈥� existed in academia or in business when I was pursuing my degrees, but CU and the Boulder community (Denver is my hometown) have always been thought-leaders in education around key social issues. So, although CSR was not a known discipline, I believe many of the professors at CU had a social responsibility bent to their teaching and curriculum, which inspired many of the key leaders we see in the CSR arena today. 听

What are some of your favorite experiences at the Leeds School of Business?

I loved my time at CU very much, so it is hard for me to pick my favorite experience. I loved the education. The campus is still the best in the country. My peers were thoughtful and inspiring. It鈥檚 no surprise that so many socially conscious company leaders come from CU. The city and the many activities in the great state of Colorado were the perfect environment for formative years. It was a greenhouse for growth in community, as an individual and in seeking purposeful work.

How do you think your education at the Leeds School of Business helped prepare you for where you are today?

I received a well-rounded academic and social education at the CU Leeds School of Business. The variety of business and non-business curriculum gave me a solid background for the beginning of my career. Ultimately, I continued my education by attaining my MBA and working full time in finance. Without my knowledge and experience at CU, I would have had less success in my MBA program.

Did you have a favorite professor at the Leeds School of Business, and if so, who is it and why is he/she your favorite?

Dr. Bowen was one of my favorite professors at Leeds. He stands out because he not only gave great insight on the curriculum, but he spent time educating on us 鈥渞eal world鈥� issues and best practices that would help us beyond the tactical skills of our careers. For example, in the final class of the semester, he took the time to teach us about how to behave in the working world, including what to wear, how to speak and how to manage your peer group. He was the only professor who focused on this aspect of career preparation, and that has always stuck with me. Now, I find myself in the educator鈥檚 role, speaking regularly in classrooms. I see that same passion in students who want to go beyond the ideas of academia and hear perspective on how those ideas can be used practically in business. I believe the craving for real-world knowledge I see in students shows momentum, optimism and work ethic in the next socially conscious generation of entrepreneurs. It drives my desire to educate young businessmen and women in the classroom as often as possible.

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Many thanks to Tom for this enlightening interview!

Learn More about the CU Leeds School of Business

The CU Leeds School of Business offers undergrad and MBA programs in business with corporate social responsibility options. The undergraduate business degree has a听certificate for socially-responsible enterprise听and the graduate program has an听MBA sustainability option. Learn more about the听CU Leeds School of Business.

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