Miguel McKelvey
New York City
Major: Architecture
Cofounder and Chief Creative Officer, WeWork
How does an architecture student become cofounder of a $5 billion startup? For starters, apply what you learn. Studios are great training grounds for entrepreneurs, says Miguel McKelvey, BArch ’99.
Late nights, extreme focus, and nonstop work—often with teams. Create a pitch. Defend your ideas. And solve problems. Constantly.
There’s also a special point of view, he says. Aim for the stars, but keep your feet on the ground. Dream big, but sweat the small stuff. School of Architecture and Allied Arts students think about climate change. And plumbing. At the same time.
Shortly after graduating, Miguel launched a web startup. That led to other ventures, including an international retail rollout with American Apparel. His most recent enterprise, WeWork, is revolutionizing business real estate, providing shared office space for entrepreneurs in the world’s biggest cities.
In just five years, WeWork has grown into one of the biggest real estate companies in the world. But for Miguel, success is less about numbers and more about making a difference.
His mission? Build creative communities, help professionals find fulfillment, and empower teams to
realize their ambitions. Sounds a lot like what we do here at A&AA.