Today, we are interviewing Matt Hart, a technology sales exec. Born and raised in the SF Bay Area and has called San Francisco home for the last 12 years. Once an aspiring attorney, he quickly traded those plans when he discovered the world of enterprise software sales after a serendipitous meeting with a marketing executive. He decided to give it a try and hasn't looked back. He is extremely passionate about understanding business processes, where they break down, and how he can help solve them to deliver meaningful business impact.
1. How did you get into what you do right now? Please tell us more about your journey?
The journey began 13 years ago when I was asked to house-sit for a family friend of my parents. They had recently welcomed a new puppy to their home and needed someone to take care of her over the weekend. When we exchanged keys at the end of the job, the conversation quickly evolved into career plans, what I was interested in, and if I had ever considered enterprise software sales. A recent college graduate with a political science and psychology degree aspiring to be an attorney, it was an unfamiliar world that I immediately was hooked by when I realized I would be able to help businesses make smarter decisions faster. Throughout my career, I've held a variety of roles in sales organizations from the largest software companies in the world to help build start-ups.
2. Who are your role models?
With a name like Matt Hart in Livermore, there are several family members, on both sides. My role models have evolved over the years from looking up to my grandfather, Skip Mohatt, in my younger years, my parents. In business, I admire Marc Benioff, John Doerr, and Sheryl Sandberg. In sports, I admire Steph Curry, Steve Kerr, and Lebron James – really anyone that uses their platform to promote good in the world. Obama, of course!
3. What inspires you?
I'm inspired by people who are able to accomplish the extraordinary from stories of overcoming adversity and perseverance to incredibly human accomplishments. I think Steve Gleason's story and his fight against ALS is something every human should be aware of and that Alex Honnold's, “Free Solo” of El Capitan and the documentary that resulted from it is arguably the greatest physical accomplishment of mankind.
4. What's your most memorable experience?
One of my most recent memorable experiences was a recent vacation in Italy a few days after getting engaged. Two days before leaving on a trip to Milan, Cinque Terre, Modena & Lake Como, I proposed and she said yes. The proposal itself was memorable, but on our trip to Italy, we had an overnight stay at Massimo Bottura's new bed and breakfast, Casa Maria Luigi, and had an amazing dining experience at the #1 rated restaurant in the world, Osteria Francescana.
5. What's your greatest fear?
Nothing specific comes to mind aside from a very consistent fear of heights!
6. What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
Strategies that have helped me be successful on my journey – setting goals, and developing a plan to achieve the goal, having a purpose-driven mentality, helping others/ giving back. Always looking for opportunities to learn and acquire new skills, traveling to new places!
7. What keeps you going when things get tough?
My grandfather, who had polio, ended up living a remarkable life as a basketball coach and teacher, would always tell me that someone always had it more difficult than I did. Given the challenges he overcame in his life, that always resonated with me and taught me the importance of working hard and persevering. Focusing on seeing being present and having the perspective that tough times can shape the person you are becoming and your response to tough times is what will define you!
