On the Future of Capitalism

Capitalism must adapt to thrive in today’s world, alumnus says.

Check out the University of Tulsa’s article about my visit between October 9th and 11th. It was an honor and privilege to return to my undergraduate alma mater. While there, I gave a keynote speech on Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, and the Future of Capitalism. The following day, I participated in an Honors College Panel.

I also celebrated my 50th birthday during my visit to my hometown. I enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting new ones, too. For the talk, I decided to memorize the keynote speech. I did this without any aids or prompts. It took me 6-7 weeks to learn the lines. I received feedback from the TEDxCU‘s student group. I also practiced with Dr. Carol Conzelman’s Anthropology of Democracy course at CU Boulder. Finally, I delivered the speech publicly at Trident Booksellers in Boulder to prepare for the University of Tulsa. I did it. Woohoo. And now, I’ll be delivering it for TEDxCU on April 5th in the Macky Auditorium on campus. Stay tuned.

Key Takeaways

Capitalism has a problem. So says University of Tulsa alumnus Matthew King, founder and CEO of Our COMMON Foundation.

King (B.A. ’98), who grew up in west Tulsa before attending UTulsa for his undergraduate degree in political science and earning his doctorate at the University of Cambridge, said skepticism about capitalism is rising worldwide, especially among younger generations. In fact, he said, a 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer survey found that 56% of people globally believe capitalism does more harm than good in the world.

“We’re at a crossroads. Some argue that we should ditch capitalism,” he told a roomful of students, faculty, and Tulsa-area residents during a recent talk in the Collins College of Business. “I disagree.”

Instead, King said, people should ask how capitalism can evolve to meet today’s challenges. For more, check out the University of Tulsa’s article, Capitalism must adapt to thrive in today’s world, alumnus says.