FAQs

What does the “J” stand for?

My full legal name is James Matthew Wall. Most people call me "Matt," and quite a few reference me as "Wall." If I am at the DMV, I'll go by James, but no one calls me Jim!

What are your Strengths?

Integrity and character consistency are my personal requirements and the backbone I rely on. I also thrive on the balance between passion and emotional stability. I am highly flexible and look forward to the challenge of my cheese moved and change happening.

What are your weaknesses?

I trust people, but I often give them too much benefit of the doubt—sometimes without having the proper checks/balances and validations in place. I mitigate this by developing robust process flows so that when a new situation emerges that requires trust, there is a framework in place. I also err on the side of getting stuff done, so I will often fight for an 80% solution and get something launched vs. holding out for a higher percentage.

What are three words you use to describe yourself?

Passionate, Level-Headed, and Organized. Both my personal and professional life is a balancing act between being a “people person” and also having a robust anal streak!

What do you enjoy most at work?

I love and get energy from interactions with people and continually improve my communication and people skills (EQ). Working remotely since 2018 and during the pandemic, I've realized how much I value teamwork and being in the trenches together, fighting to meet that goal. And, of course, I thoroughly enjoy the after-work happy hour!

What was your most challenging job?

When I was a frontline manager at AOL, it was difficult for me as a young manager to instill a passion in entry-level team members. My position oversaw teams that took inbound retention sales calls, and just watching for compliance was soul-sucking. I wanted to stay challenged and didn't like just "making donuts." I mitigated the situation by strongly investing in my team and going above and beyond to make their tough job more fulfilling.

What was your easiest job?

When I was at NSS Labs as Director of Service & Delivery, we had good communication within the operations groups, and teamwork felt natural. I also had a brilliant, self-driven team that made managing them a joy. Unfortunately, the company closed due to the lack of funding during the pandemic. That being said, my easiest job now is one in which I trust my leadership and trust my team!

What is your five-year goal?

Even as a very young guy who is shocked to see "50s" on his driver's license, I feel like I have a ton to do before the specter of retirement appears. I want to expand my responsibility and influence. I want to continually do cool things with cool people!

What is an example of a hard message that you had to give?

A better question is when do I get to give easy messages? I have communicated slips around timelines and deliverables, negotiated priorities with conflicting stakeholders, and dealt with complaints about a team member's body odor. The best way to communicate difficult messages is to use data and plainly lay out facts and options. It also helps to add kindness and liberal adoption of the Golden Rule.

What's the most useful business-related book you've ever read?

"Start with Why" by Simon Sine. Understanding the Golden Circle of Why, How, What. We too frequently start with "What are we going to do?" instead of "Why are we doing this." Exploring and determining an initiative's Purpose, Cause, and Belief can change everything.

What's your favorite non-business book?

"The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman. Understanding that my teammates, friends, and others often communicate with me via Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Acts of Service, Quality Time, and Physical Touch has helped me interact with everyone better.

What would you be doing right now if money were not an issue?

It would involve being with intelligent, talented, tenacious people but would also likely include some combination of travel, music composition, and architecture. Right now, I get excited about working with a driven team.

What's the most creative thing you've ever done?

While I regularly attempt to compose music, the most creative thing I have done is using SketchUp to design our house and landscape completely from scratch.

What's your superpower?

I ride a very fine line between having a high EQ and being very personable, and on the other side, being extremely organized and anal! Instead, I wish I could fly and shoot lasers out of my eyes.

What words of wisdom do you live by?

There are five pithy rules I try to live by: Know your job, Do your job, always get better, Help Others, and have fun. Throw in a staunch belief in the Golden Rule and try to always start and end from a place of kindness, and eventually, I may actually live up to who my dogs think I am.

What aspects of your work are you most passionate about?

Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork. Nothing beats the joy of coming together with people you like and trust - and killing it!

What was the most impactful class you took in school?

101: Intro to Philosophy. This first-year college-level course introduced me to expanded thinking, exploring options, and a genuine appreciation of other points of view. Due to my love of the topic, I almost accidentally earned a minor in philosophy.

What words of advice would you give your younger self?

Don't be afraid to be yourself. If you embrace who you authentically are, most people will respect your honesty and integrity, and all interactions will eventually become easier. While this realization included becoming comfortable identifying as part of the LGBT community, it also included acknowledging and embracing that deep down, I am just a big geek!

What's something you wish you had done years earlier?

Living in Austin, Texas, I wish I had learned conversational Spanish beyond "Donde esta el bano" and "Una mas cervesa, por favor."