Michael Mathews, 33
President, The Backpacker
Since taking over the local outdoors store his father founded in 1974, Michael Mathews has tripled the revenue of The Backpacker and expanded the brand to Lafayette. Besides growing his retail business, Mathews has built relationships with the state’s kayak fishing community to provide an alternative way to experience the outdoors without a boat. He’s a member of Entrepreneurs Organization Louisiana and previously served as membership chairman for the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, and he sponsors several kayak fishing events throughout the year. When he’s not working, Mathews spends most of his time outdoors, snow skiing, fishing and scuba diving, among other adventures.
NAME THREE MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
- Opening and launching our Lafayette location.
- Tripling company revenue since the end of my first year as owner.
- Working with Louisiana’s kayak fishing community to build a movement that has made it possible for more fishermen than ever to enjoy our state’s natural resources. Before now, the only way to access Louisiana’s marsh was from a boat.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT.
EO Louisiana, member and past membership chairman; Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, member; CCA Louisiana, STAR Tournament committee, sponsor and life member; Bayou Coast Kayak Fishing Club, sponsor.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY.
Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh.
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
Olympic freestyle mogul snow skier like Jonny Moseley.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
Sanding and painting one of my Dad’s triplexes all summer, and I got paid $180 for the whole thing. I was excited to see that hard work pays, but looking back I think I was undercharging!
WHAT IS THE STRANGEST JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD?
Electrician’s assistant at the LSU Union sophomore year of college. It only took a few jolts to get the hang of it!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
Beausoleil—black drum with stewed okra.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Our Lafayette store and the team work that we have achieved to make it successful.
HOW DO YOU GET PUMPED UP BEFORE A BIG MEETING, PRESENTATION OR PITCH?
I usually research, prepare and stress for days or weeks before something like this, so right before I like to make sure that I relax for an hour or two and do something that makes me smile and builds my confidence unrelated to the presentation.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
Labor Day weekend 2016 Seeing our The Backpacker staff personally take the initiative to raise over $17,000 for flood victims in five hours. It was a very exciting.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST PRODUCTIVITY HACK?
Focusing on top five priorities ranked, and working my way down the list until they are all scratched off and limiting my distractions.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
Don’t work around your biggest challenges and weaknesses, tackle them head on by staying focused, seeking help from others, and not giving up.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR JOB WOULD SHOCK CUSTOMERS OR CLIENTS IF THEY KNEW ABOUT IT?
We could hire three more full time employees if credit card companies didn’t collect as much as they do on each transaction (on top of the high interest they charge you).
HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY DRESS FOR WORK—CASUAL? PROFESSIONAL? BUSINESS CASUAL? OTHER?
Casual.
WHY PART OF YOUR JOB DO YOU LOVE?
I love taking people skiing and showing them a good time on the slopes.
WHAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN FROM A COLLEAGUE OR BOSS?
I have been told that I am”wise beyond my years” by one of our top manufacturers
MAC OR PC?
PC.
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
Yes, Facebook and Instagram.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
Probably 100 or so texts and 50 emails.
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET IN % BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
12%.
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
- I’m copied on a lot of emails that don’t always require my response.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
Instagram, especially since they started allowing you to have manage multiple accounts on one device.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
iPhone.
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
5 a.m.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
I always make breakfast at home.
THE SAYING GOES: “BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU “BEING” TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?
I want to inspire love for the outdoors to all ages. We have so much around us to enjoy and in time, I hope to inspire interest and make the outdoors more accessible.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP”?
When I realized that I do better work with my shirt tucked in.
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
You just can’t beat a Backpacker ski trip!
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
My first mountain bike.
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
Time travel.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT?
Karma—what goes around comes around.
WHO FASCINATES YOU?
Chris Fischer, entrepreneur and great white shark researcher.
WHICH FICTIONAL CHARACTER DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH?
Clark Griswold. I love a good vacation!
FAVORITE DRINK?
Patron silver on the rocks with three lime slices on a summer day.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?
Guns N’ Roses.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
Trading Places.
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE?
Any of those James Bond guys would suffice.
WHAT SCARED YOU AS A CHILD, AND WHAT SCARES YOU NOW?
Snakes … still snakes.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
Don’t be afraid to make a mistake and learn from it rather than wishing you could undo it.
PETS?
We have a 85-pound goldendoodle lapdog.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY MEMORABLE CELEBRITY ENCOUNTERS? WHAT HAPPENED?
I ran into Shaquille O’Neal when I was 16 at the music store on Constitution. I tried to talk to him about music, but I think I scared the giant away.
TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
Probably when I met my wife in college. We were young but she supported and encouraged my decision to take on the business and to grow it and has been there through all the challenges that went with it.
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
We would like to become a regional icon for specialty retail through customer experience, strategic marketing, and a model corporate culture.
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?
Our consistent inability to separate social and fiscal issues because of political party lines.
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?
Family and friends.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?
Don’t get stuck in the weeds. Keep your head up, listen to those around you, and don’t hesitate seek advice.
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
Yes. I love our community and it’s always been home.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST HOPE FOR BATON ROUGE?
To have one of the best school systems in the country that inspires growth and success beyond grade school.
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
- Heli-skiing in South America.
- Venturing the entire Pan-American highway.
- To one day donate sufficient resources to LSU to develop a retail program for the business school.
