Carl Oberg
Carl readily admits he came to understand liberty and the value of free markets relatively late in his career. In 2007, he was entering his sixth year of working on opening the world to free trade through government-to-government trade negotiations, but it wasn't producing results and he became frustrated with his job at the U.S. Department of Commerce.
"I realized, mostly through my own online research of places like the Cato Institute and the Foundation for Economic Education, that inter-government discussions can only take the world so far. Individuals have to be the source of social change, not governments."
So, Carl quit his job and earned a second master's in economics at George Mason University, gaining a renewed excitement for economics and the fight for liberty. Yet, Carl felt he was still lacking something, and that his to-date work experience didn't provide him with the management framework and opportunities he desired. "I needed a program that would help me gain management skills while at the same time provide me with non-profit specific knowledge and networks that would help find a job suitable to my skills and experience."
Carl joined the 2009-10 Koch Associate Program and it gave him the non-profit management training he wanted. He spent the year working as a policy associate at the Americans for Prosperity Foundation. He credits the program for strengthening his management abilities and expanding his network, which lead him to the job he has today.
As executive director of the Foundation for Economic Education, Carl manages several staff members and the summer interns. He is responsible for overall budget management and coordination of the foundation, human resources, and archive management. Managing this educational non-profit with a rich history has allowed Carl to promote liberty in a tangible and effective way, and he believes the opportunities offered through the program led to his success.