Denver: We are now going to do Take 5 now with Mark Edwards, the Chief Executive Officer of Upstream USA. Are you ready, Mark?
Mark: I‘m ready.
Mark Edwards
Denver: What should we be worried about?
Mark: We should be worried about our survival on this planet.
Denver: What is one of your favorite documentaries or movies?
Mark: Get Out.
Denver: What is today’s most underreported story?
Mark: The rate of unplanned pregnancy in the US.
Denver: What idea in philanthropy is ready for retirement?
Mark: Every organization should do a randomized controlled trial.
Denver: Name some organization or person that you have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for.
Mark: Phil Buchanan at the Center for Effective Philanthropy.
Denver: What is something you believe that other people think is just insane?
Mark: That men should be interested in unplanned pregnancy.
Denver: What is a favorite part of your morning ritual?
Mark: Coffee in bed with my wife.
Denver: What is something you have changed your mind about in the last 10 years and why?
Mark: I’ve come to believe that young people in this country really have the chance to make an extraordinary difference, and I feel that way today more than 10 years ago because of what has happened in the last year.
Denver: If you were a kitchen utensil, what would you be?
Mark: A lemon squeezer.
Denver: What do you wish people were more open and honest about?
Mark: The things that keep them up at night.
Denver: If you were to start your career all over again to do something completely different and away from this field, what would that be?
Mark: I would be the chief brand officer for the United States government.
Denver: What’s your super power?
Mark: Blending in.
Denver: If you can have one gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it, what would you have it say?
Mark: Vote.
Denver: What is something whether this is related to your work or not that you are exceptionally excited about right now?
Mark: Running in my next marathon with my daughters.
Denver: What are you currently reading?
Mark: My wife’s novel.
Denver: What is the one book you would give as a gift other than your wife’s novel?
Mark: All the Light I Cannot See
Denver: What do you think about when you’re driving in the car alone?
Mark: My organization.
Denver: What topic would you speak about if you were asked to give a TED Talk on something outside your main area of expertise?
Mark: The joy of raising girls.
Denver: What is something about you that very few other people know?
Mark: I’m an obsessive grower of lettuces.
Denver: Given a choice of anyone famous in the world, dead or alive, that you can invite over as a dinner guest, who would that be?
Mark: Barack Obama.
Denver: When was the last time you sang to yourself?
Mark: This past weekend.
Denver: To someone else?
Mark: This past weekend.
Denver: What advice would you give to your 25-year-old self?
Mark: Take the long view.
Denver: Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?
Mark: To those who much is given, much is expected.