Luke Butler (Br’06) never imagined while growing up in Durham, England that he would not only become a Thouron Scholar, but also work in American politics before a career transition into the broadcast entertainment industry in the U.S.
After completing his undergraduate programme at The London School of Economics with a degree in politics, Luke went on to work in London’s private and nonprofit sectors as a political consultant — though he always had a keen interest in the American political system. Thankfully, through his good friend and Thouron Alumni, Tim Cooke-Hurle (Br’04), Luke learned about the Thouron Award. Without hesitation, Luke decided to apply so that he could study politics at the University of Pennsylvania — at an invigorating time when the 2008 presidential election was gearing up!
“The Thouron Award created my time abroad! Without the support of the Thouron family there is no way I would’ve had the opportunity to study, live, and work in the United States,” Luke shares.
Life in the U.S. with the Award
While studying at Penn in 2006, Luke took our encouragement to fully immerse himself into American culture and society quite literally! When he was supposed to be studying his MSc. in Public Administration, Luke also found himself being a Deputy Finance and Communications Director for a Philadelphia mayoral candidate, Michael Nutter.
“I joined the campaign of a long-shot candidate for mayor…working in fundraising and then communications. Having nothing at all to do with my arrival on the campaign, we went from last place to first place and I spent the next eight years working in Philadelphia City Hall,” Luke recounts.
It might seem surprising the turn of events, but knowing how Luke views our Award makes for a natural order of things on his journey. “I think part of the intent of the Thouron Award [is] that people experience the United States and not just study there. That spirit and mentality led me to really get involved in U.S. politics — in my case, Philadelphia politics but also through that national politics and government — and through that get a front-row seat to some of the tensions, complications, and debates that shape this [the U.S.],” Luke states.
Life in Local U.S. Politics
Over those eight years in Philadelphia City Hall, he held roles such as Deputy Press Secretary to the Mayor, Special Assistant to the Mayor, and finally Chief of Staff to the Deputy Mayor. It was Luke’s role as Special Assistant to the Mayor that required him to be by Mayor Nutter’s side at all hours of the day, helping the mayor manage decisions and issues that crossed his desk as well as articulating what was being done for the people of Philadelphia.
“I experienced every aspect of the city in that role and had a front-row seat
to the job of a big city mayor, the most fascinating role in American Politics,” Luke reminisces. In 2012, when Mayor Nutter was reelected, Luke became the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Mayor, Alan Greenberger — which is when Luke’s responsibilities expanded to all aspects of Philadelphia’s economic development.
“I’m proud of the work we did in government to help make Philadelphia a more prosperous, inviting, and equitable place. In a city which has historically been challenged by corruption and captured by special interests, the people on our team were genuinely people of integrity, honesty, and a dedication to serving the public,” Luke states.
The next four years at Philadelphia City Hall went by quickly, leading him to switch gears briefly to work at a startup in the city, Curalate, as their Head of Strategy and Operations. Little did Luke know, his talent and experience would be called elsewhere in the grand scheme of American culture and society: broadcast entertainment.
Life on New Frontiers
At Comcast NBCUniversal, where he has been since 2018, Luke has built out a function wherein he has the opportunity to build stronger relationships between the company and startups that are doing exciting things in the world. Beginning as Senior Director, Startup Engagement, he now holds an executive leadership role as Executive Director, Startup Engagement and Head of Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs Accelerator. “I feel very fortunate in that I get to work across our whole business — movie studios, theme parks, streaming, and one of the country’s largest internet providers — and meet some inspirational entrepreneurs whose ideas are changing the industries we work in,” Luke shares.
The role he plays in shaping the future of Comcast NBCUniversal is an important connective tissue to the two ends of his Thouron journey — Philadelphia, which serves as the headquarters for Comcast and the U.K., through the global company’s ownership of Sky. With the age of AI transforming the present, Luke believes the future will be determined by startups that are at the cutting edge of AI technology and he feels privileged that his job is to know those startups and find ways to help them by integrating them into Comcast.
As he considered the future for the family he and his wife, Megon, wanted, the next logical step was change in location.
Happiness: Past, Present, and Future
Luke met his wife in Philadelphia during his years working for the mayor. As she had grown up in a neighbourhood outside of Chicago, there was a desire from Luke and Megon to move closer to his in-laws. “I am most proud of the family we’re building. We have two sons — Freddie who is about to turn five and Taron who is about to turn two — who keep us utterly exhausted and endlessly entertained,” Luke proudly expresses. There isn’t anything else in his life that he has accomplished that compares to the joy Luke experiences being with his family.
So much so that he has tried to keep some British traditions alive with his young sons — such as watching Newcastle United football matches and reminding his sons that they are Geordies by blood, catching an occasional F1 Grand Prix, and engaging in the interests his sons have as well. “My son Freddie is getting really into gardening — despite refusing to eat anything that we actually grow — so we spend a lot of time growing fruits and vegetables, planting flowers, and drenching each other with the garden hose,” Luke shares.
Occasionally he will even try to keep up his guitar skills by playing from time to time, but mostly Luke reconnects to music whenever British bands have a concert in Chicago. As a father and husband, another treasured moment is cooking pasta and curry dishes once his little ones are off to bed. Luke has had a great many moments on his Thouron journey, and what a beautiful life it has contributed to thus far.
“There aren’t many times in life that you feel the transformational impact of a single moment, but receiving the Thouron Award was one such moment for me. [It] brought me to the United States, a country that has given me a family, a fantastic career, amazing friends, and countless incredible experiences,” Luke confirms.
As for the future, he has high hopes for our Award and how it continues to grow and evolve.
“I’m not sure there has been a more important time for this type of transatlantic network to exist. As the formal relationships between the two countries are challenged and the fate of the broader established world order unclear, it is this type of fundamentally human connective tissue between Britain and America which will remain a constant no matter what the political weather,” Luke warmly expresses.
What Could Your Future Look Like as a Thouron Scholar?
Learn more about the Thouron Award — one of the most prestigious and generous academic scholarships in the world, offering funding and cultural exchange between the University of Pennsylvania and U.K. institutions.
Applications for the Award are open from July to October for candidates from Penn, and July to November for U.K. candidates.