Matt worked with me as a consultant and leadership coach for a period of about eighteen months. Matt helped me define how I would develop myself as a “CEO 2.0,” build an executive team, and lead Root Capital as we scale. Having an experienced voice to guide me, to challenge me, to affirm me, and sometimes just to listen to me has been quite helpful. The quality and scope of Matt’s contribution has made a real difference for me and for Root Capital.”
— Willy Foote, CEO, Root Capital
Matt’s patient, easy going and always-available and insightful counsel has enabled us to turn our vision into results.”
— Dan Rosensweig, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville
Matt was instrumental to my success as the new Executive Director of the Humane Society for Greater Savannah, which is shifting from being a reactive animal sheltering organization to a more proactive animal welfare organization. When I arrived I could feel the pressure from staff, some board members and the community for us to make the shift, but there was definitely also some fear and some recalcitrance about the change. Matt designed a strategic planning process that helped to lay out the vision for the immediate future and built excitement for the possibilities of what we could accomplish. Matt knows enough about animal welfare that I didn’t have to spend time getting him up to speed on where the sector is heading and yet he also quickly understood the unique challenges that face our organization and community. And as the new ED I was shielded from a spot of danger as Matt could gently prod the board as we occasionally stormed in this process. Not only that, I appreciated Matt’s sense of humor when I felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall or the storming got out of hand – the anti-honeymoon period, as he called it. He was there with good advice or just a quick, “really?” to assure me that I wasn’t crazy. Looking back I’m glad Matt was a partner over the last 6 months – I wouldn’t have done it without him.”
— Michelle Thevenin, Executive Director, Humane Society of Greater Savannah
We were able to obtain a clearer understanding of how to focus our goals and maintain good working relationships with our partners and with each other. We learned how to evaluate our strategic plan so that we are continually meeting the needs of our constituents. We are now in a better position to look for opportunities for staff to utilize their individual skill sets and knowledge.”
— David Hartman, Manager, New Hampshire Coastal Program
I find myself centered and clear, solid and sure about my judgment, leadership style, and intuition, and equally clear about my deficits. I find myself quieter, more strategic and less reactive. And perhaps most importantly, I find myself disengaged from the drama – not ignoring it but not at the center of it, not hijacked by it. Thank you for your guidance, challenge, wisdom, and support. I am most grateful!”
— Kaki Dimock, Executive Director, The Haven, and Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless
This is one of the best things we’ve done. I wish we’d started much earlier.”
— Greg Burton, CEO, West Virginia Worker’s Compensation Division
We enjoyed the way Matt challenged us to create our own solutions. He did not attempt to influence us with his opinions or bring personal bias into the dialog yet he made many forward thinking suggestions that helped us to see a bigger picture without losing the identity of our grassroots beginnings. Matt never claimed to have the answers and certainly did not bring a prescription for how we should operate. Rather, he listened closely, observed our group patterns and helped to guide our conversation so that together we could develop a solid plan of action. We have a clear grasp of the steps needed to make a healthy transition and a vision of the enormous potential of our new statewide direction.”
— Julie Jones, Executive Director, Virginia Health and Environment Project
Matt’s support and insight has led to great improvement and a significant increase in funding. He’s (Matt has) helped me to think about the organization’s opportunities and strategies, and my leadership of it, in critical and very different ways. I can’t imagine where we’d be without him.”
— Pete Myers, Founder, Chief Scientist, and CEO, Environmental Health Sciences
Matt gave the organization not only tools and skills that help today but the know-how to use them in the future. We are now much more able to make decisions that help move us forward. I have never worked with anyone who made change as safe and as desirable as Matt has for us.”
— Director of Operations, NGO
Working with Matt Kayhoe has been essential to the success of my non-profit organization, and for me as an NGO executive. We have worked with Matt from the germination of the idea to create our nonprofit, up to the present day. Matt has been invaluable in helping us think through the early strategies for creating a new entity, in working with us to reconnoiter as we have grown and rose to meet new challenges. Matt is a fantastic “blue-sky thinking” partner, and yet he approaches his work with real emotional groundedness. I can’t recommend him highly enough; all NGO leaders should have this kind of support.”
— Karen Peabody O’Brien, PhD. Executive Director, Advancing Green Chemistry
Matt’s style is calm, relaxed, refreshingly humorous and always professional. He is able to listen to what individuals are saying and apply that point to the matter at hand quite effortlessly. His ability to deal with organizations and individuals with widely different agendas is to be commended.”
— Verna DeLauer, Outreach Coordinator, New Hampshire Coastal Program
Matt worked with our Executive Team during a year when our team was new and getting to know each other. Our styles were not the same and some of our roles were shifting. By talking in confidence to each of us and creating a neutral presence to facilitate uncomfortable discussions, Matt helped us understand ourselves and grow as a team. Matt has served as an advisor on the myriad of organizational issues we faced as we grew. I’ve come to highly value his support, observations, and suggestions.”
— Bonnie Cockman, Senior Vice President Finance & Operations, Root Capital
Because of Matt’s preplanning efforts, by the time of our gathering, our board was excited and ready to come to the table. Matt’s friendly demeanor immediately set the tone for a comfortable atmosphere that empowered each of person to feel safe to say what they wanted to say. By relating to each participant in a personal way and establishing this positive space for dialog early on, Matt enabled us to get a lot of work done in a short period of time.”
— Sherri L. Smith, Development Chair, Virginia Health and Environment Project