A career built on connecting people
Matt joined Valtech in August 2021. Before that, he had spent 11 years leading strategy teams in a business where strategy and creativity took center stage.
His move to Valtech brought a real change of scale: From a team of more than 40 to a team of two. This change meant he had to tap into thinking about things differently. He had to consider navigating a different perception of strategy, which gave him a new area to grow into.
Today, his role has two connected parts: working with the UK leadership team to shape and execute the business strategy, and building a trusted, AI-native Strategy & Consulting team that helps clients tackle tough challenges and spot opportunities.
What has stayed constant is his approach: Bringing different disciplines together around a shared ambition to do great work. For Matt, strategy becomes richer when people cross domains, listen properly and take the time to understand why others see things differently.
Life beyond the laptop
Matt’s morning usually begins with a big pot of Volcano Coffee Works coffee from a local Brixton roastery.
Up at 6 a.m. with Nala, the family dog, he has time to prepare for the day — and, when he can, fit in climbing training or a trail run through Dulwich Wood.
Work brings variety. Mondays have a familiar rhythm of a strategy stand-up, a pipeline call and the UK leadership meeting. Beyond that, the week can include pitches, client projects and internal work such as the UK AI Transformation Initiative.
But switching off matters, too. For Matt, climbing with his son James is a favorite way to do it. Brixton Substation has become their second home.
James pushes me to do those harder climbs. It’s a great way to refocus and force work to take a back seat.
His priorities are clear. Family comes first.
Having spent long enough feeling absent previously in his career, Matt wants to be present for the moments he will remember: laughing with his wife or watching James reach a new climbing milestone, rather than another Teams meeting.
Learning to be kinder to yourself
Matt is open about having experienced burnout in his career. He shares how it changed his relationship with himself.
I’ve spoken of my burnout openly at our global International Men’s Day event. I wish it had happened to me earlier in my life. It taught me to be much kinder to myself, to not have crippling self doubt, and to accept how I am and say I am content.
Looking after himself is not a perfectly polished routine. He moves through phases of running, Pilates, weights, hangboarding and climbing. Meditation has helped him, but Matt admits it has fallen away lately and is something he wants to return to daily.
That honesty also shows up in how he talks about listening. This is the skill he considers most important in his role. He gets excited and wants to jump in, and he is still learning to pause and make room for others. For Matt, taking care of himself and being a thoughtful colleague are both ongoing practices. That is key to making his role a success, whatever the challenge is.
And, sometimes, that role is guiding his team through the fields to the local pub.
Creating impact by bringing people together
Matt’s work spans Valtech’s own future and our clients’ ambitions. He works across many different areas. Right now, he’s shaping briefs to form 2027 plans for the UK business.
Alongside this, he’s working with the Data team in the Edinburgh office for a long-term roadmap for a travel and hospitality client. A session with the client’s CIO opened up an opportunity to develop the relationship, and Matt was the perfect fit. This has given him a chance to bring teams together around a connected plan.
Leading internal strategy alongside client strategy has given Matt greater respect for the challenges clients face. Believing in a direction is one thing. Executing it at the pace needed is another.
I think the best strategists are those that are the best travelled. Crossing domains, really listening to people’s perspectives are learning why they think what they do. This gives so much richness. I think a large part of my job is listening and finding ways to surface others expertise, give it the airtime it deserves and show how it connects to other people work.
Matt’s approach to collaboration is less about rearranging structures and more about behavior: Stay curious, be transparent and check that everyone’s voice is being heard. He sees his role as surfacing people’s expertise, giving it airtime and showing how it connects with the work of others.
There is a common misconception that only process or structure is required for successful integration. To me, it’s mostly behavioural. I’m naturally inquisitive about how others perceive the world and never assume my view is correct, just different. So long as both parties want to do outstanding work, I think that creates a space for collaboration.
For clients, those connections should make life easier. Matt compares a siloed experience to being passed between people, repeatedly explaining the same problem and then receiving slightly different answers. Nobody wants to be left piecing everything together.
Collaboration is key to everything Matt does. And that thread runs through everything, when things go well and when they sometimes don’t.
We are in the service industry, everyday single day we have to think how we are going to deliver an incredible client experience. Removing silos is just part of the job. We have to have a strong point of view on what excellent looks like and have the integrity to say speak up when something isn’t quite right.
Great work, with space for what matters
For Matt, Valtech’s collaboration spirit is what he loves. His own story brings that spirit down to everyday choices: Listen before jumping in, connect people rather than separate them, keep learning.
Having just turned 50, taking stock of how far he has come and the exciting chapters ahead are what intrigue him.
Outside work, Matt focuses on being kinder to himself and making time for his family. Whether he is helping shape a strategy or focusing on the next climbing hold with James, connection remains at the heart of what matters to him.
Join Valtech
Inspired by Matt’s story? If you’re looking for a workplace that values creativity, collaboration and continuous learning, Valtech might be the perfect place for you. Check out our open roles and be part of the journey.