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Social Activism—an Interview with Alumni Matan Sivek | The Hebrew University Business School

Social Activism—an Interview with Alumni Matan Sivek

“Hi, Rose! Can we speak at 3:30 p.m.? I’m in the middle of a tour that’s taking more time than expected. Trying to help these beautiful animals...”

animal pic

Before I sat down to chat with alumnus Matan Sivek, I received this message accompanied with this photo. How could I say no to such a noble request, and, more importantly, such a sweet little monkey?

This quick exchange with the man recently named as one of Forbes 30 Under 30 gave me some insight as to why he received this honor: Matan is a genuinely hard worker, who strives unceasingly to leave the world a better place than he found it and gives 110% to everything he commits to. Once we actually sat down to speak, all of the evidence that I’d gathered only reaffirmed this.

Dedication to the community

Matan grew up at Moshav Avichayil near Netanya, and it is there where the seeds of communal responsibility and social impact were sowed. He shares that growing up, “my parents always encouraged me to listen to other people and to try and understand what they need and want. Ask what you can give, and not what you can get. I grew up with these messages and I’ve remained aligned with them.”

Although he grew up in a moshav, Matan was destined to leave the comfort zone of his childhood and experience different places and people. After finishing the army, Matan enrolled in the Hebrew University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics and the Amirim excellence program.

He continued for an MBA in Urban Planning. During his time at Hebrew University, Matan began his career of social activism as a representative of the Student Union. He also participated in the Student Ambassador program, where he was sent on a speaking tour to the US and Canada, giving him his first taste of North American Jewry that would become so central in his career.

Reflecting on this stage of his life, Matan remarks, “I’ve always known that I would attend the Hebrew University. I knew that I wanted to work in the public sector or for a social cause, and I thought this would be the best place to do that, for many reasons. They have great people, a great network, and inspiring colleagues and cohorts.” In addition to his professional gain, Hebrew University holds a special place in Matan’s heart, as it is where he met his wife, Bar.

A professional career filled with meaning

After graduating, Matan moved to Beer Sheva, where he worked for a government agency that handled both the economic and social development and settlement of the Bedouin community in the region.

His next challenge was moving back to Jerusalem to work for the Education Ministry as the Advisor to the Director-General for all Arabic-speaking minorities, focusing on the Bedouin, Druze, Palestinian, and East Jerusalem communities.

Matan shares, “I’m more than grateful for this opportunity. At first, it was really hard; it’s a challenging, complicated, and convoluted issue. But still, I loved it and we managed to execute very significant programs. It was real shlichut – mission. You know what I mean?”

Matan jokes, “I’m the wandering Jew, traveling everywhere”, as he shares about his move to Washington, D.C., where he is Executive Director of the Israeli Nature and Heritage Foundation of America (INHFA), traveling across North America as part of his duties.

INHFA’s goal is “to become the line of defense of Israel’s nature and historical sites, to make sure that no matter what is happening in Israel, be it the pandemic, or politics, or missiles, or war, our natural assets are well maintained and preserved. We’re working with concern for the next generation, to ensure that they can remain a part of this wonderful land.”

Matan’s passion for his new position is exuberant. “The reason I love my job is the fact that it’s so unifying. It doesn’t matter whether you’re Jewish, Christian, or anything under the sun. We all love and cherish these historical sites and nature reserves. We all think they’re important to our identity, to our people, to our future, to our community.”

Matan whole-heartedly believes in the mission, the driving force behind the organization. “I would say that the most important thing about this project is that we’re really building connections. We’re trying to give people the opportunity to have a very strong connection to the heritage sites and nature reserves, and through that to be connected to Israel. It’s exciting to be a part in preserving the history of our country, of the story. And you know, this is your story too. This is why INHFA is so important to me, and I hope it continues to grow.”

Business with a heart

Although they guide his every move, Matan’s “kumbaya” and save-the-sea-turtles (his favorite animal) attitude are not what earned him a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. His passion for improving the world is complemented beautifully by his business prowess. “Establishing an organization is pretty tough. I’ve never managed an organization like this, so for me it was a huge leap of faith.”

Matan shared some of his challenges breaking into the not-for-profit world: “The world of American philanthropy is huge. In our sector, they call it the red ocean [referring to the sea of red tape]. It’s a well-developed philanthropic environment, which means that these organizations have existed for 60, 70 years, and then you come, you join, and you establish your organization. Others need to understand what you’re doing. They need to trust you, because everything is about interpersonal communication, everything. In any situation, it’s super-important that others find you accountable and trustworthy.”

In order to overcome these challenges, “you need to understand the organization’s mission and vision, to understand how you’re going to allocate your budget, if you have any budget at all. Then you need to understand your business model, how you’re going to reach out to people.”

Despite his aptitude for business, Matan says, “I would say that the most important thing you have is the people around you. Especially in the field of philanthropy, because it’s not standalone work; you really need a good team. It’s a shared effort.”

The advice Matan would give to a student about to finish college and enter the workforce is: “Be aware of yourself and your capabilities. Know what you can do, and what you cannot do. It will lead you to a better place for yourself, both in a personal and professional sense.”

It is not enough to simply know your abilities; “You should come with courage, be brave, don’t be afraid of taking huge challenges. On the other hand, bear in mind that it is really important to work hard, otherwise it doesn’t work. If you want to take on a challenge, be ready and well prepared to make a real effort.”

Matan’s final piece of advice once again reinforces my first impression before we even sat down to talk. “Listen, remain attentive, respectful, and humble,” while he smiles and says, “But, hey. I’m a young guy, what do I know about life?”