Miguel McKelvey

Miguel McKelvey
Born	1974 Eugene, Oregon, U.S.
Occupation	Entrepreneur
Known for	Co-founder and former chief culture officer of WeWork

Miguel McKelvey (born 1974) is an American entrepreneur known as the co-founder and former chief culture officer of WeWork.

Early life

Raised in a unique "five-mother collective" in Eugene, Oregon, McKelvey's family operated the local publication Eugene Weekly.

In a 2020 discussion with Fortune, he characterized himself as a "wild kid" during his high school basketball days, attributing his sense of responsibility to a demanding coach due to the absence of paternal influence.

He completed his studies at South Eugene High School in 1992. Initially enrolling at Colorado College, McKelvey was inspired by a professor to pursue architecture, prompting his transfer to the University of Oregon. There, he earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1999. Additionally, he was part of the Oregon Ducks basketball team for two seasons and officially lettered in 1997.

Career

Prior to finishing college, McKelvey gained experience working as a busboy and spent two summers employed at a fish processing facility in Alaska.

Following graduation, he co-launched English, baby!, an online platform and community designed for language learners, which expanded to employ 25 people. Subsequently, he relocated to New York City to join Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture, where he oversaw the global retail rollout for American Apparel stores.

It was in this office building that McKelvey met Adam Neumann. Together in 2008, they founded Green Desk, a coworking space emphasizing sustainability through recycled furnishings and wind energy use. They eventually sold Green Desk back to their landlord and transformed the concept into what became WeWork.

Established in 2010 with its inaugural site in SoHo, Manhattan, WeWork quickly emerged as a pioneer in the flexible workspace industry. McKelvey held the role of chief culture officer, managing areas such as construction, architectural design, digital presence, and organizational culture. The company diversified into ventures including WeLive (shared living spaces), Rise by We (premium fitness centers), and WeGrow (a private elementary school). By 2019, these initiatives were unified under The We Company umbrella.

In recognition of his innovative contributions, McKelvey was named among the Most Creative People by Fast Company in 2019. He declared his exit from WeWork in June 2020.

In 2022, McKelvey invested $10 million to gain controlling interest in American Giant, an apparel manufacturer. This move aligned with his commitment to reinvigorate domestic manufacturing and reestablish factories as key economic engines.

Personal life

McKelvey was previously married to Hiyam Khalifa, a former investment banker from Detroit, with their marriage ending in divorce in 2017.