CV | Matthew Springer

C.V.

My biggest passions revolve around technology, sustainability, and making a positive change in the world. I'm told my superpower is connecting the dots - whether it be with people, ideas, or opportunities.

As a dynamic, entrepreneurial leader, I have a strong strategic vision and ability to adapt and thrive in fast-paced, complex environments. I value communication and have an ability to soak up multiple sources of data and coalesce into an action plan, and then execute with proactive approach, and positive manner.

My workflow is creative, mindful, and motivated. I come with a global network of change-makers, and a proven track record in facilitating multi-stakeholder collaborations by bringing together those in the private sector, government, development banks, multilateral organisations, non-profits, academia, NGOs, and civil society. There are few things I enjoy more than working towards a greater good, and turning thoughts into things.

About Me

Key Skills

Strategy & Digital Innovation

Sales & Marketing

Team Building & Recruitment

Finance

Branding

Project Management

E-Commerce, B2B, B2C

Partnerships

Business Development

Experience

Founder & CEO

2017-Present

Holistec

Holistec is a digital platform and 21st century school which focuses on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and prepares learners, educators and organisations for rapidly changing times.

Our Personal Accelerator® program was developed in collaboration with world-class leaders and organisations - delivering lifelong, positive impact for the students and their communities. This is powered by our unique and dynamic 3-pillar approach: incorporating tech skills (cybersecurity, rocketry, 3d Printing, app development), mindfulness, and entrepreneurship.

My activities and responsibilities include business development, R&D, finance, sales, partnerships, operations, branding, IP, recruitment, legal, curriculum development, competitive analysis, marketing, social media, SEO, & web development.

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2023

Consultant

WIRRED - Walkers Institute for Regenerative Research, Education, and Design

Walkers Institute for Regenerative Research, Education and Design (WIRRED) is a nonprofit think-tank, research center, and consultancy dedicated to regenerative agroforestry practices. We are committed to climate-smart strategies that exemplify how ecosystem-based mitigation and adaptation offer tremendous opportunities in achieving climate resilience.

WIRRED offers nature-based solutions geared towards building habitat, increasing biodiversity, and sequestering carbon while reconnecting people to nature through eco-agritourism and educational experiences.

Our organization believes that successful regenerative development requires a multi-sector network including the public and private sectors, academia, and community. At the center of these partnerships is one common focus: a shared love for people, equity, equality, and the environment.

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Head of Business Development

2023

Abed Group

Worked with portfolio companies which ranged from fintech, governance, banking, agriculture, real estate, and commodities. Established and maintained strong relationships with key partners, clients, and stakeholders, resulting in increased collaboration and expanded business opportunities.

Our vision at the Abed Group is to catalyse effective and responsive governance and sustainable development by bringing Caribbean-native Regulatory Technology (RegTech) solutions to life. We run a venture studio and a private equity fund. Our portfolio currently includes 13 companies.

Product Manager

2022-2023

Responsible for delivering a successful product. That includes working out what customers want, helping the team to build the right product and then supporting the business to sell it. My role is to bridge the gap among the different departments involved in successfully bringing our products to market, including R&D, engineering, marketing, sales, and customer support. My ultimate goal is the creation and launch of products that meet consumers’ needs — growing market share and success.

Entrepreneur-In-Residence

2021-2022

Worked with the company's leadership team to develop and implement strategic plans for growth, including product development, go-to-market strategies, and partnerships.

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Producer, Scriptwriter, Director

2022-2023

BTMI (Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.) - Ministry of Tourism

Producer for 11 video & photo productions across two high-budget international campaigns.
Managing entire production process from pre-production to post-production, alongside industry veterans.
Creating the concepts, securing financing, managing the budgets, building the team.
Coordinating crew members, securing locations, intellectual property.
Ensuring deadlines are met and that all stakeholders are kept informed of progress.
As Director: responsible for bringing the script to life, managing cast, and crew.
As Screenwriter: developing scripts, crafting engaging storylines & compelling dialogue.

2019-2021

Co-Organiser

UNCTAD XV (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development)

UNCTAD Ministerial Conferences are the largest intergovernmental gathering held once every four years, bringing together Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Heads of Industry from 195 Member States. As one of eight core team members responsible for the Creative Industries and Trade Digitisation (CITD) Forum, I was involved in every area of pulling together an international high-level diplomatic conference. This included concept development, budgets , pitching to the Prime Minister and Planning Committee, strategy, sponsorship, partnerships, team management, project management, marketing, filming, social media, and PR.

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Curator

2019-Present

Global Shapers - World Economic Forum (WEF)

In 2020, I was elected to lead as Curator of the Bridgetown Hub in the Global Shapers Community. Born out of the World Economic Forum, the GSC is a network of inspiring young people under the age of 30 working together to address local, regional, and global challenges.

With more than 14,000 members, the Global Shapers Community spans 456 city-based hubs in 150 countries. In each city, teams of Shapers self-organise to create projects that address the needs of their community. Projects are wide-ranging – from responding to disasters and combating poverty, to fighting climate change and building inclusive communities.

As Curator, I ensure hub members are united by a shared sense of purpose and work together to create change. Specifically, I am responsible for establishing governance structures, developing roles and responsibilities, helping hub members, recruiting, maintaining a standard of excellence, organising regular hub meetings, supporting the hub to implement projects, integrating community representatives and beneficiaries, facilitating fair and transparent elections, and more.

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2018 - 2019

Consultant

Government of Barbados

In 2018, with instruction from Prime Minister Mia Mottley, I delivered on a comprehensive blueprint on revolutionising the tech curriculum in Barbados, and the development of a 30,000 sq. foot Innovation Hub. This included liaising with stakeholders in Govt from Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, development banks, academia, architects, designers, hardware suppliers, and financiers, and donors.

Separately, with instruction from the Prime Minister, I worked on medical marijuana legislation - bringing together lawyers, consultants and industry professionals. This was part of initial groundwork for what is the medical marijuana industry in Barbados today.

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2011 - 2016

Founder

420 Fortunes

At age 21, I launched 420 Fortunes - an e-commerce company designed to be the market leader in the Web based sales of eco-friendly hemp products, world-famous cannabis-culture accessories. I took the business from an idea to over 1400 products (with 3423 SKUs) - sourced from all over the world, whilst maintaining relationships with distributors and suppliers ranging from Spain, Netherlands, the US and the UK.

As with any start-up, I wore many hats - going from idea development, to web design, operations, financing, distribution, sales, marketing, advertising, SEO, systems building and more.

Between Irie Organics and 420 Fortunes, with little sleep and lots of sacrifice, I made sales to over 60+ countries without any outside financing or hands-on guidance.

Founder

2010 - 2016

Irie Organics

Within 6 months of moving to the UK and starting law school, I launched Irie Organics - a forward-thinking e-commerce company inspired by a strong love for the natural world. Irie Organics sold high quality, eco-friendly products which included certified organic foods, health & beauty products, clothes, bags and other accessories.

At 19, this was my first deep dive into a tech-based business, and I had no choice but to learn web design, SEO, copywriting, sourcing, negotiating with distributors, contract law, logistics, systems building, and all areas that covered e-commerce. It was a tough, but beautiful, life-changing experience.

Entrepreneur

2009 - 2013

Bournemouth University, UK

In University, I worked as a club and event promoter, bartender, waiter, and selling software products to corporate entities.

Sandy Lane

Intern

2009

After finishing my A-Levels, through pure serendipity I was blessed with an opportunity to work alongside the Directors of Sandy Lane, Barbados - a AAA Five Diamond hotel that has long been regarded as the premier address in the Caribbean and the preferred resort for discerning travellers across the world.

Guests include some of the world’s leading businessmen, royalty and celebrities demanding a very personalised, professional service. It was my job to greet them with the Directors, and be their go-to person for any events or access and bookings across the country. Halfway through my time, I enquired about a role with the ‘Kids Club’, which I was granted. My responsibility was ensuring the kids of the guests had an incredible experience. This meant jet skis, tennis, video games, pool time and more. Needless to say, I loved my job.

My biggest takeaway was the importance of company culture, and high-standards within an organisation - how taking care of the staff truly ensured success. It also highlighted the importance of a great brand, customer experience, and opened my eyes to the breadth of the luxury lifestyle industry, and delivering a five-star product.

2007 - 2008

Host

TGI Fridays

At age 16, I started working at TGI Fridays after school and on weekends as I completed my A-Levels. My first role was as busboy where I cleaned floors, tables, and bathrooms. I was then promoted to waiter, and a few months later, host - which played to my love of human interaction and customer experience.

Entrepreneur

1999 - 2009

School

I grew up in an entrepreneurial neighbourhood where we started selling brownies at age 9. By age 16, I had washed cars, packed bags, sold fish, fruits, clothes, CDs, and even custom ipod playlists.

I then got into events, and services - helping to launch and promote StudentMarketplace.com - the leading student website in Barbados - amassing nearly 200'000 hits in the first month in a country with a population of 260'000 people, and Urban - a lifestyle and event brand which secured sponsorship from Red Bull, Diamonds International, and other well-recognised sponsors.

These formative years gave me confidence, key entrepreneurial mindsets, and showed me that anything is possible.

Volunteering

2021

Contributor

Open UK

OpenUK is a UK-based not-for-profit company which supports open source collaboration and open technologies within the United Kingdom. Its primary stated focus is to develop and sustain UK leadership in Open Technology, consisting of open source software, open source hardware and open data.

Team Member

Tangential Dreams @ Burning Man

2016 & 2018

Fundraising & build-team for Tangential Dreams at Burning Man 2016 which won the prestigious Architizer A+ Award and was featured globally in publications like Dezeen, Vice, and Forbes.