Mathew is a senior at Tulane University majoring in Sociology with a Certification in Secondary Education. He is the Community Manager for the national non-profit fundraising organization, Connect for a Cause, as well as for the New Orleans based mobile app development company, WebDevrs. He gives back to the community by mentoring elementary school kids in the Recovery School District. He hopes to make a big impact on the world someday.
Mathew comes from a South Indian family and has quite an amazing set of hobbies and interests. He loves outdoor sports, especially playing tennis and basketball; he is a baritone with a wide range and participates in opera and musical theatre; he enjoys going to sporting events, especially Hornets and Saints games; he loves to travel and wining and dining are his two favorite activities. He explained how thankful he is to be raised in New Orleans, “and by New Orleans—by her Cajun spice, by her genteel southern tradition, and by everything black and gold.”
Follow his good works and adventures on Twitter @m_ipimpin.
What is the most exciting thing you are working on right now?
Connect for a Cause’s exciting new venture, WebDevrs–a premier web/mobile app development firm. We’re building out the 16th floor of the Exchange building (935 Gravier) into The Dojo, a Japanese themed workspace for “code ninjas.” The fundamental idea is to provide an optimal environment for the evolution of ideas. Why be caught in a constricting cubicle when you can be developing in The Dojo?
If you wrote a regular column for Silicon Bayou News what would it be about and what would you name it?
“Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy” –> Highlights a New Orleanian man and delves into what makes them tick. Basically a ‘day in the life’ series. I would highlight their favorite local restaurants and watering holes, their music collection, and their personal fashion sense–ranging from the dapper Don Draper type to the entrepreneur hipster to the millionaire wearing brown shoes with a black suit.”
If you could win any award in the world, which would you be most proud to posses?
The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
If you were stuck on an elevator for two hours, what one person (dead or alive) would you choose to be stuck with?
Steve Jobs
IYO, which institution is most due for disruption?
Education
If you had to pick a drink to describe yourself (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) what would it be?
Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned
Tell us about your biggest failure.
Being only 21 years old, I don’t have much professional experience; however, as a Tulane student I was devastated when I was turned down from the Green Wave Ambassadors [GWA], Tulane’s prospective student recruitment group. I had been extremely successful for 4 years in event planning/promotions for Republic New Orleans (basically prospective student drinking recruitment), and honestly figured a good old Southern boy with Indian roots and exuding with personality would be exactly what GWA needed. This was probably the first rejection I’d ever experienced other than a quiet slap in the face from Yale a few years before that.
I took this experience and reevaluated myself. I looked at the way I interacted with my superiors, the way I interacted with clients–and I began to tailor my tastes, goals, and style to what I ultimately saw myself as. In hindsight, this rejection helped me more than anything. I am now the Community Coordinator for two amazing start-ups in NOLA and love meeting awesome professionals on a daily basis who share the same values as myself.
What’s your favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon?
The Lord made Sunday to pray for the New Orleans Saints.
If you had to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Pizza
If you could live in any other time period, which would you choose?
1960’s
What are you most excited about happening on the Silicon Bayou that you aren’t directly involved in?
I love Giftmeo. It’s a great idea, and incredibly simple. I think it works best in a big office environment–when it’s the bosses birthday, instead of having to compete for the biggest brown-noser award, the team can just all pitch in on giftmeo.com for an Amazon Gift Card and everyone is happy…and I can buy that do-it-yourself electric back waxer I’ve been dying for.
The standard superpower dichotomy:
Be Invisible