Matthew Jordan is the CEO of Our Gorongosa, a specialty coffee using regenerative practices that support human development, rainforest reforestation, and wildlife conservation in Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park. All of their profits support initiatives that lead the way for those communities surrounding the park. As CEO and Director of Sustainable Development for Gorongosa National Park, he’s working to create a world where people and the planet can thrive together.
Matthew has been intrigued by natural systems for as long as he can remember. While obtaining his Master's degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Texas, he discovered a simple lesson: the fate of human societies and the natural world are intertwined. Pulled by a desire to be of service to the world, Matthew served in the Peace Corps before joining the Our Gorongosa team.
Matthew Jordan talks about Our Gorongosa's mission
The community development and conservation strategies in Mozambique
Matthew's experience with traditional Mozambique communities and ceremonies
The primary crop grown by the local communities before the introduction of coffee and Matthew's decision to branch out
Allocating land for growing coffee in Gorongosa
Where to get more information about Our Gorongosa
Matthew talks about the company's business model and how they handle the roasting and logistics of the business
Matthew's future plans for Our Gorongosa
The biggest challenge Matthew faced growing the coffee business—and how he triumphed
Growing any type of business requires resilience. Starting and growing a specialty coffee company in Africa is no exception, as Matthew Jordan found out. You need to know how to handle land issues, government involvement or lack of, traditional beliefs, and logistics for finished products. He also learned that building a business isn’t just about supporting livelihoods but conserving the environment.
The various challenges business owners in the food industry face can be categorized as economic, climatic, socio-political, or health-related, like the current pandemic. Entrepreneurs have to learn to be resilient and adaptable if they want to stay in business and grow. They also have to pay attention to their people: employees, suppliers, and customers alike.
Matthew Jordan, the CEO of Our Gorongosa, is this week's guest on the NexxtLevel Podcast. Matthew sits down with Steve Cleere to talk about how he started a specialty coffee business in Mozambique and his process for using the profits to support the livelihood of the community and protect the rainforest. He also talks about the cultural and logistics challenges he faced building the coffee business and his future plans.
