Former Google Social Impact Project Leader Joins Haas as Exec-in-Residence

Matthew Stepka, a former vice president at Google whose work ranged from shepherding the company’s mapping business in Sub-Saharan Africa to launching a grant to fight Ebola, has joined Berkeley-Haas as an executive-in-residence.

During his nine years at Google, most recently as VP of special projects, Stepka worked on worldwide social impact efforts to expand Internet access, develop clean energy, strengthen freedom of expression and democracy, reduce the company’s environmental footprint, and extend Google’s reach in emerging markets.

Among Stepka’s projects:

• Leading Google Green, which made more than $1.5 billion in investments in renewable energy projects capable of generating 2 gigawatts of power
• Launching Google Ideas, a think/do tank that addresses key global challenges, including holding summits on violent extremism and illicit networks with thought leaders and key stakeholders
• Opening five Google offices in Sub-Saharan Africa and piloting satellite-based, solar-powered internet access for remote villages
• Investing in a constellation of satellites to provide internet access to remote and underserved regions in the developing world
• Leading Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, which makes grants to social entrepreneurs who use technology and strengthen our communities to address human challenges

Robert Strand, executive director of the Center for Responsible Business (CRB) at Berkeley-Haas, said Stepka’s work “fits perfectly with our work at the CRB in the Human Rights & Business Initiative.”

The Berkeley-Haas executive-in-residence (EIR) position is similar to that of an executive fellow, but with even more campus presence. EIRs holds office hours at Haas, allowing for one-on-one contact with students. Typical duties include meeting with students, giving talks/workshops, guest lecturing in courses, and participating in academic programs and conferences.

Stepka plans to teach a workshop to the Full-time MBA students on big data and artificial intelligence with Lecturer Ori Brafman this spring.

He will hold office hours on Wednesdays.

Previous Executives in Residence include Scott Kupor, managing partner and chief operating officer at Andreessen Horowitz, and David Riemer, former vice president of marketing at Yahoo!.