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Matthew Sueoka, Consultant and Co-Founder
Consultant by Day, Hopscotch Network Hero by NightHe works for Deloitte Consulting by day. Sits on the Board of Directors and is a Co-Founder of the Hopscotch Network, a growing network of socially conscious young professionals set out to help making a difference, by night. He’s helped raised over $30,000 in one year. He’s designed and helped architect an orphanage in Bangladesh. And get this…he’s only 24 years-old. It’s no wonder we take time this week with Matt Sueoka to learn more about his impressive resume, his drive to motivate other young professionals about a cause, and his passion to do more. His work just reminds us all that every young professional in some small way can make a difference and can do it while still having fun. Learn more about Matt and the Hopscotch Network as we feature him in this week’s Young & Professional Profile.
Company
The Hopscotch Network
Deloitte Consulting
Website
www.hopscotchnetwork.org
Name, Title
Matthew Sueoka
Strategy & Operations, Consultant for Deloitte Consulting;
Co-Founder of Hopscotch Network
Age
24
Hometown
Orinda, California
Current residence
San Francisco, California
Education
Dartmouth College
Engineering modified with Studio Art (2004)
Work Experience
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Architects
Architectural Design Intern
Ethnicity
Japanese, Lebanese and Norwegian
About Hopscotch Network
The Hopscotch Network mobilizes socially conscious young adults to support established non-profits dedicated to improving the lives of children through educational and life-improving support.
Help underprivileged children by raising funds and offering needed services for partner non-profits committed to the advancement and education of children
Shape the next socially responsible generation to guide the future by mobilizing a powerful group of young adults with a diverse set of backgrounds and skills
Provide this group of young adults with a social outlet and network to form meaningful and lasting relationships
We host fundraising events to provide members access to a powerful group of young adults who, like you, are not only social, but are socially aware. We also make a concerted effort to provide direct outreach to our partner nonprofits, ensuring a strong local impact.
100% of proceeds from our events go to the current Hopscotch Network drive.
In addition to individual contributions, we seek donations from government and non-government affiliated groups to further benefit the current drive. Each chapter of the Hopscotch Network host separate events in their respective cities. Each event will be designed to (build and further) unite our network - having a great time making an even greater impact.
What are your day-to-day responsibilities?
Serve on board of directors and oversee leadership team of over 50 volunteers across 7 Chapters in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Washington DC. Manage finances across the organization and support national recruiting for leadership teams in each city. Serve as the Chapter Director of the San Francisco Chapter – in charge of event planning, marketing and fundraising.
What's your background in this field?
- Lifelong volunteer and philanthropist
- Project Founder and Director for the Charfassion Orphanage Capital Campaign at Dartmouth’s Tucker Foundation to build a new facility for 100 children at a rural orphanage in Bangladesh (I designed the 14,000 square foot facility for my thesis project)
- General management background as a Strategy & Operations consultant at Deloitte
Most notable milestones
- Launching 7 Chapters in our first year (2005) and recruiting a national leadership team of over 50
- Promoting philanthropy through social fundraising events and reaching thousands of twentysomethings across the United States
- Hopscotch raised roughly $30,000 in our first year through social fundraising events from an average donation size of $10 – the funds will benefit construction of the Charfassion Orphanage in Bangladesh
What’s the niche?
Hopscotch fills a niche that provides social networking opportunities for urban twentysomethings, recent college graduates and young professionals through philanthropy. Our organization is unique in our multi-chapter model and our national fundraising drives – which promote community across chapters since all events benefit the same philanthropic cause.
What's in store for the future?
Growth and expansion – hosting more events and launching new chapters
Investment in technology – looking to further promote social networking through online communities.
Unexpected learnings along the way
It’s a small world – I’ve been amazed at the connections people find when identifying mutual contacts and friends. Having attended Hopscotch events in multiple cities, it’s clear that our leadership committees provide the foundation for marketing our events. We pride ourselves in the fact that the majority of event goers are direct friends of leadership committee members or have mutual friends.
Dedication goes a long way – We are an organization fully supported by volunteers. Significant dedication is required to run chapters and plan / execute events – I have been deeply impressed by the commitment our volunteer leaders have demonstrated to help Hopscotch be successful.
Who would you like to be contacted by?
Organizations or individuals interested in donating funds or goods to Hopscotch (PayPal donations can also be made online at www.hopscotchnetwork.org) or providing other forms of sponsorship – such as liquor sponsorship, providing contacts for potential event venues or other goods that can be raffled as prizes at our fundraising events
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Best way to stay ahead
Surround yourself with talented and passionate people, create mutually beneficial goals and empower them to be successful.
Guiding principle in life
Live with passion for life and live without regrets. Take advantage of opportunity and give back to those less fortunate. Always challenge and push yourself.
Yardstick of success
Satisfaction – in knowing that I put forth my best efforts, learned from my experiences and made a difference.
Goal yet to be achieved
—Successful completion of construction for the Charfassion Orphanage facility I designed as my thesis project at Dartmouth;
—Launching my own for-profit company as a social entrepreneur;
—Traveling to / working on every continent (four down – Africa, Asia, Europe and North America – and three to go – Antarctica, Australia and South America).
Best practical advice
—Set realistic goals, and achieve them;
—Be cognizant of your strengths and development needs – leverage the strengths and improve upon development needs;
—Defy convention – just because something hasn’t been done or no one knows how to do it does not make it impossible.
Supportive words from a family member or friend on your venture
Give recognition where recognition is due – in other words, celebrate successes and award others appropriately.
Most memorable business experience
Non-profit: Our first Hopscotch event in San Francisco. As our first event, we were trailblazing in unfamiliar territory, and we had no idea how many people would show up. The event turned out to be a huge success with over 300 in attendance and nearly $3,000 raised in three hours.
For Profit: Traveling to South Africa to conduct market research with a variety of retail clients. I had a meaningful cultural experience, interacting with individuals from various backgrounds – from gas attendants to corporate vice presidents. I also spent some time exploring the Western Cape outside of work.
Mentorss
My parents – I look up to their commitment to the community and serving others.
Dr. Stuart Lord – Stuart is the Dean of Dartmouth’s Tucker Foundation who has sponsored my project with the Charfassion Orphanage in Bangladesh since my junior year in college. Stuart has supported my efforts and provided guidance and encouragement throughout the process for a challenging and non-traditional project to build an orphanage facility in a developing country.
My colleagues at Deloitte – Many individuals have challenged me to grow as a leader and supported my personal and professional development. I value their commitment to developing others and helping others to be successful – whether at work, Hopscotch or other pursuits.
At age 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Architect.
What motivates you for success?
Knowing that I am always learning and growing and that I am applying my leadership skills to develop others and help others in need.
Like best about what you do
Working with people from all walks of life – from senior executives at my clients across the globe to Dartmouth students I advise on academic research and fundraising to the orphans I am working to help in Bangladesh. It allows me to bridge the gaps between these various groups that otherwise would probably never connect.
Like least about what you do
Working on projects that focus on improving global health and international development are challenging because the amount of need is great and one project cannot fix everything. However, project successes can provide lessons that can be applied in multiple contexts or countries. Effective models and programs that can be replicated are the result – it is this concept of scalability that can make a greater impact on complex, global social issues.
Biggest pastimes outside of work
Open-water swimming (recently completed 2 races from Alcatraz to San Francisco); drawing.
Person most interested in meeting
Bono – He has made a significant impact on philanthropy and improving awareness of social issues, like AIDS and poverty, across mainstream audiences globally. I would like to learn from his experiences and ask about his secrets to success.
Leader in business most interested in meeting
Bill Gates – He is a business leader who has dramatically changed the field of technology and will transform the world of philanthropy. The impact of the Gates Foundation and the mark it will inevitably leave on improving global social issues is unparalleled. I would like to hear, in his own words, more about Bill’s views on tackling such massive challenges and how success will be measured.
Three interesting facts about yourself
1. I have had two cows slaughtered in my honor (one of each of two visits to the Charfassion Orphanage in Bangladesh – I visited while designing its new facility)
2. I swam competitively for 16 years (from age 5 through 21 when I graduated from college)
3. I’m a frequent flier – I logged over 150,000 miles flown in 2006 primarily for work
Three characteristics that describe you
1. Passionate
2. Balanced
3. Do-er
Three greatest passions
1. Challenging myself
2. Learning from others and by experience
3. Maintaining balance in my life – with health, family, work and play
Favorite book
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien – an amazing book about the Vietnam war and its effects on a group of young American soldiers.
Favorite cause
I’ll have to default to the Hopscotch Network because I am passionate about our mission to develop young leaders and raise funds / awareness through philanthropy.
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