Meet Matthew Ahlquist, Foster Evening MBA Class of 2026

Learn about Ahlquist’s fundraising efforts for Atlas Free, a nonprofit dedicated to combating human trafficking

Written by: Chandana Surapaneni, contributing writer, Foster School of Business

In this blog, we take a more personal look into the journey of Matthew Ahlquist, a Foster School of Business Evening MBA student from the Class of 2026, who is balancing family, work, school, and driving meaningful social impact. By day, Matthew works as a Manager in Strategy & Transformation at Ernst & Young. At home, he’s a proud father to his one-year-old daughter. But beyond his professional and personal life, this story is about how he fits in his remarkable fundraising efforts for Atlas Free, a local nonprofit dedicated to combating human trafficking and sexual slavery.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was raised in the Seattle area. My family moved to the Eastside, specifically Sammamish, in 2006. I attended a small private Christian school in California for a few years, which is where I met my wife. She’s from Fresno, California, and after some convincing, she agreed to move up here with me.

Throughout my time in Washington, I’ve been involved in various activities. One of the most significant was joining a CrossFit gym in Redmond called Kul CrossFit in 2015. The gym’s owner, Dan — who is now a close friend — introduced me to Atlas Free. His passion for the cause and belief in Atlas Free’s mission were infectious!

In 2021, I finally had the opportunity to join them on a climb. Before that, my family had supported the organization financially through donations, but this was my first hands-on experience.

Matthew Ahlquist, Foster School of Business Evening MBA Class of 2026 student

As a Foster Evening MBA student and a parent, you’re balancing a lot — work, family, school, and your involvement with Atlas Free. How have you managed it all, and what support systems or strategies have helped you along the way?

Since our daughter came into the picture, that’s really been the biggest shift for us. It forced my wife and me to have honest conversations about our capacity — what we can truly handle now — because she’s our number one priority. We have to make sure we’re taking care of her.

But I think what’s made it possible to keep going is that my wife shares the same conviction. She’s also deeply involved with Atlas Free and really passionate about it. So, as we were preparing to become new parents, we sat down and had a very real conversation: What are our non-negotiables? What are the things we’re not going to let go of, even with a baby in our lives? These weren’t just things that mattered to us — they had a real impact on others, too.

Two of those non-negotiables were CrossFit, which we both love, and Atlas Free. We agreed that we wouldn’t push those aside. It might be hard, but we were committed to making it work.

And honestly, I give my wife as much — if not more — credit for that. She’s been willing to make sacrifices on her end to support this. She enables me to show up and represent both of us in this passion and this mission.

That mindset — acknowledging that it is going to be hard, and that it’s okay for it to be hard — is what set us up for success. It’s helped us manage all these different commitments without getting overwhelmed. That’s always the risk, right? Feeling overwhelmed. But thankfully, we’ve avoided that because we’re filled up by the things we care deeply about.

One last thing I’ll add is how we’ve tried to integrate our daughter into it all. We take her with us to the gym — that’s how we’ve been able to keep that part of our lives going. Obviously, I’m not taking her climbing with me, but we’ve built a strong support system. My parents, our friends — they’ve all stepped in to help, whether it’s while I’m in class or off on a climb.

That support has been a huge blessing. We really couldn’t be more grateful.

Tell us more about Atlas Free

Atlas Free is a nonprofit organization based in Kirkland, Washington, dedicated to combating human trafficking and sex slavery worldwide. They collaborate with about 40 local organizations in around 26 countries that are already embedded within their communities. These local organizations possess in-depth knowledge of their regions, including cultural nuances, community needs, and how to navigate local law enforcement and government systems. Atlas Free’s role is to provide resources and support, empowering these organizations to continue their impactful work.

Atlas Free takes a holistic approach to combating human trafficking, going beyond extraction — rescuing individuals, especially women and children, from trafficking situations. While Atlas Free does engage in rescue efforts, it places a strong emphasis on restoration. This involves equipping survivors, many of whom have known nothing else but exploitation, with the tools to build new lives and identities. Additionally, Atlas Free works closely with law enforcement and policymakers to create systemic change at the local level.

Can you share your experience with the Climb for Captives campaign?

Climb for Captives is an example of what we call “adventure philanthropy,” where participants take on challenging outdoor adventures — such as mountain climbing — to raise awareness and funds for the fight against human trafficking

The campaign’s origins trace back to CEO Jeremy’s idea to climb Mount Rainier with a group of friends, fundraising by pledging a donation for every foot of elevation gained. That first climb raised over $14,000 for anti-trafficking organizations.

It embodies the philosophy of “doing what we love to fight what we hate,” proving that people can use their passions — whether it’s climbing, hiking, or another challenge — to support meaningful causes.

Atlas Free is a nonprofit organization that exists to accelerate and resource the fight against sex trafficking and exploitation.

How have the soft skills, leadership insights, or teamwork experiences from the Evening MBA program influenced the way you engage with Atlas Free and contribute to its mission?

Starting the Evening MBA program aligned perfectly with my transition into a leadership role with adventure philanthropy and Atlas Free. By the time I began leading my own Freedom Hike and inviting others into the mission, I had a year and a half of the MBA program under my belt, which left me feeling more prepared than ever to guide others through something new and unfamiliar — not just for them, but for myself as well.

Although I had been involved with Atlas Free for four years, stepping into a leadership role within the mission was a new experience. It provided a direct opportunity to apply the leadership principles and strategies I had learned in the MBA program — particularly around organizing others, gaining buy-in for a shared vision and mission, and serving as a resource and support system. I was able to help others navigate the unknown by drawing on my own experience with adventure philanthropy and Atlas Free.

Do you feel the MBA program helped you become more efficient or effective in your professional role, and if so, has that played a part in enabling your involvement with Atlas Free?

I would say yes, but not in the ways I think you’re asking. My role with Atlas Free is much more focused on leadership than on operations. In that sense, it’s difficult to draw direct parallels between any efficiency improvements I’ve seen in my professional role — through applying lessons from the MBA program — and the more leadership-oriented nature of my work with Atlas Free.

That said, the MBA program has helped me approach Atlas Free with a more visionary perspective — both in terms of how I view my own involvement and how I see the organization’s potential to grow and evolve. This broader, strategic lens is closely tied to how I approach business problem-solving, which is core to my work as a consultant and has been further sharpened through my MBA experience.

What is it like to take on these climbs?

Now that I’ve participated in a few climbs, I have a better understanding of what to expect. However, my first Climb for Captives and Freedom Hike was incredibly challenging. I consider myself fairly fit, but these climbs are on another level.

On my first ascent, we encountered a brutal storm just as we were reaching the final stretch up Mount Baker in Washington. The last portion, known as the Roman Wall, is a steep incline leading to the crater. As we approached, a massive cloud rolled in, bringing heavy winds and rain. We barely had time to take a summit photo before turning around and heading back down. I was freezing, my feet hurt, and I was exhausted.

The descent was no easier. After reaching base camp, we immediately packed up and began the long hike back to the cars, all while carrying 65-pound packs. By then, my knees were in pain, and I started questioning whether I would ever do something like this again.

However, that’s when the deeper purpose of the climb set in. Unlike the survivors of human trafficking, I had chosen to endure this hardship. I could walk away at any moment. But for those trapped in slavery, suffering isn’t optional — it’s their reality. That realization made the challenge worth it and reinforced my commitment to the cause.

Since then, I’ve climbed Mount Baker multiple times, and last year, despite getting weathered out before summiting, the experience was still meaningful. My wife jokes that I’ve invested too much in mountaineering gear to quit now, but the truth is, I’m fully committed. Climb for Captives provides a powerful way to reflect, push personal limits, and ultimately raise awareness for Atlas Free’s mission.

It has been a transformative journey, both physically and mentally, and I encourage others to find ways to use their passions to support causes they care about. Whether it’s climbing, hiking, or something else, the important thing is to take action.

Learn more about the Foster School of Business Evening MBA here.