Spotlight On: Matthew Ngango
Mez Joseph
Spotlight On is our tradition of interviewing team members to celebrate and get to know them better. Our latest Spotlight On feature is Matthew Ngango. Matthew joined the Liollio team last year and is a graduate of Clemson University, where he earned his Master of Architecture. In 2017, Matthew also earned his Bachelor of Environmental Design at Uganda Martyrs University in Nkozi, Uganda. With a passion for exploring and communicating ideas in architecture, he believes that clarity of information and respect for others through collaboration is crucial to discovering, developing, representing, and presenting impactful solutions to design challenges. Matthew contributes to the success of our studio and projects, engaging in collaborative dialogue and creating physical models, animations, and renderings. We sat down for a Q+A session with our newest Spotlight On feature:
Where did you grow up?
Kampala and Entebbe in Uganda
Are you married?
Yes, married to Abby Ngango for one and a half years
Do you have children?
Not yet
What do you like to do for fun?
Urban hiking and sketching
Do you have pets? If so, tell us a bit about them.
Not yet
Favorite place(s) to go locally?
Galleries & Downtown Charleston
Favorite restaurant?
Addissae Ethiopian Restaurant in Asheville
Favorite food?
Ethiopian Food
Least favorite food?
Black Mushrooms
Favorite book?
When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor...and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert
Do you play any instruments?
Acoustic guitar, Drum Sets, and Bass guitar
What song is at the top of your most played list?
Telling Stories by Tracy Chapman
Favorite musical artist or genre?
Queen/80’s Rock
Favorite visual artist?
Ignat Ignatov
Favorite television show?
Abbott Elementary
Last book you read?
Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human by John Mark Comer
Favorite podcast or blog?
99% Invisible
Favorite movie or genre?
Shrek, Animation
Last movie you watched?
The Bad Guys 2
Favorite place you have traveled to and why?
Rose Mary Beach, because it was perfect for a honeymoon.
Favorite style of architecture?
Vernacular Architecture
What building have you visited that most impressed or inspired you?
National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC
What would the book or movie about your life be called?
Besides Paradise
Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Daniel Kaluuya
If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
An eagle because I would appreciate seeing the bigger picture.
Are you messy or organized?
Messy
What’s your pet peeve?
Cold feet
Guilty pleasure?
Coffee Lemonade
Tell us a random fact.
I have twin brothers and so does my wife.
Favorite quote?
”A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22
If you could interview one person (dead or alive) who would it be?
Denzel Washington
If you could witness any historical event, what would you want to see?
When Jesus walked on water
If your house was burning down, what is the one non-living thing you would save?
My passport
What three traits characterize you?
Enthusiastic, genuine, and curious
What’s your astrological sign?
Pisces
What is your personal philosophy?
Let love change me since I have a choice in my response to situations.
What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
My faith
What is the greatest challenge you have had to overcome in your life thus far?
Loving well
What is your greatest fear?
Being misunderstood
What is your superpower?
Connecting dots
What inspires you most?
My mum’s sacrifices
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Knowing amazing people
What is your favorite thing about working at Liollio?
The positive collaborative attitude towards people and work
What does true leadership mean to you?
True leadership listens, provides clarity, and holds accountability.
If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
A rock band drummer
What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13?
Enjoy the journey and take time to listen, even to the wind.
How do you define success?
Success is not perfection, but it is achieving excellence while creating great memories and relationships.
Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
When I was young, I once accidentally swallowed glass; but I am here.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Approach every situation as if it is the first and last time; no situation is ever the same since time passes, the environment evolves, and people change.
