A Conversation with Ross Chief Advancement Officer Matt Young

Matt: I spent many hours listening to Frank Sinatra with my grandfather as a kid. Sinatra’s Italian heritage and the Rat Pack appeal of that generation made him a favorite. “My Way” is one specific tune that resonates with me — both because I could see my grandfather reflecting on his own fulfilling life through the lyrics but also because I often think about how my children will regard my legacy and hope they can say that in the challenging times, “I faced it all, and I stood tall and did it my way.”

Matt: I’ve spent much of my life in the Midwest, so Michigan feels like home. We didn't get to enjoy having so many relatives close by during our decade in Colorado, and with young children, the proximity to grandparents benefits everyone. While we love and miss the mountains of Colorado, it is great to be near so much water again. Nothing beats summer visits Up North in Michigan, so we’re thrilled to have those back. 

Matt: Ross is a world-class institution with the potential to be even more impactful, respected, and highly ranked than it is today. That’s appealing — especially for someone responsible for philanthropy that enables impact to be realized. Additionally and relatedly, Ross has brilliant faculty, staff, students, alumni, and donors. Being surrounded by such talent makes my work more enjoyable and fulfilling. 

Matt: As we celebrate 100 years of Ross, this campaign is critically important in charting the course for the next 100 years. If Ross is to continue to lead as a place where we build a better world through business, we need to infuse the school with the resources necessary to dream big and look to the future. That’s where the power of philanthropy comes into play. We need all Ross alumni and donors to embrace their role as partners in the school’s ongoing success and impact. 

Matt: While our Advancement team is responsible for equipping Ross with the funds needed to be exceptional, we are always cognisant that we also work for our alumni and donors. We are tasked with forging a symbiotic relationship with our alumni community, helping individuals build and maintain lifelong connections with the school. At the same time, we help donors and prospective donors strategize and realize the impact they’d like to make at Ross through their philanthropy. In a nutshell, our work is two-fold: we build relationships, and we advance the school. I’m excited about finding and implementing new and improved ways of doing both.