Pellowski

The world lost a beautiful soul today. Matt Pellowski. A kind, generous, caring, strong, firm and servant leader. A husband, dad, sibling, child, and trusted companion for all those around him. I didn’t know Matt for a long time. I wasn’t a high school or college mate. Rather, Matt and I met during the pandemic. I had just left a company that I had been at for several years and went to the place where Matt worked, Strategic Education. I didn’t know a soul at the company. I had only really met the folks I interviewed with and those were relatively brief conversations. 

On my first day I met Matt, the leader of the customer support and end user teams, part of the collection of folks I was given the honor of serving. From that first moment at the elevator in the lobby, Matt was engaging, comfortable, honest, inquisitive, and genuinely cared about everything and everyone. I still remember how he walked me through the building, giving me history, tips, advice and asking engaging questions. He was as comfortable a person I’d ever met. We quickly developed a rapport with each other, and it was built on trust, respect, and honesty. There were many conversations we had where Matt really challenged my thinking, helping me grow and expand in several ways. I would like to think he’d echo that sentiment.

The second to last thing I’ll say on the work aspect of Matt is that I would not have been successful if it were not for Matt. That’s not to downplay anyone else’s part in my time and experience at the company but without a doubt, he was the most instrumental in making sure I understood my surroundings, knew my blind spots, had the tribal context, and enabled me to function quickly. My gratitude to Matt for that, it was without personal interest, just one of many examples of Matt being the wonderful human being that is Matt.

The last things I’ll say on the work aspect is that Matt was a phenomenal leader and champion for the company he chose to make his mark. When we talk about people being laser focused, its generally in a singular dimension. Matt had several dimensions to his laser focus. 

The first was the well-being and livelihood of his team. He had a clear understanding of where his team wanted to grow, what their personal and professional aspirations were and how to best align those with an outcome of driving the company forward. It is that best outcome for all involved scenario that Matt always strove to achieve. He understood that happy teams, armed with the mission of the end customers make for happy customers.

The second was on the end customer. In Matt’s case that was complicated. It wasn’t just one customer. It was four distinct personas and he understood those so well that he was able to navigate any situation with skill and craft to ensure the best possible outcome for each persona. That’s a skill that is rare and Matt was a master at it.

Next was on the supporting staff for the end customer. An entirely different customer base with drastically different needs. One that was also in constant flux. This is where Matt’s development of others really shined. He recognized the best talent on the team to take on the various customer groups and organized them to a best fit and best outcome. The talent potential in that whole organization was, and I can only assume still is, one of the strongest talent pools I’ve seen. Largely, in part, to Matt’s dedication to the craft.

The final group was to the executives in the organization. Imagine spanning the spectrum from end customer to executive and board members. That was Matt’s span of understanding and his show of success. It didn’t matter where on the spectrum someone was, Matt approached it all with a professionalism and focus on outcome that is what I now consider the gold standard. It is probably obvious by now, I’m a fan.

I had the privilege to travel, in the thick of the pandemic, with Matt to other office locations. What I experienced on that trip will stay with me a lifetime. His generosity, his authentic nature, his engagement was all incredible to be witness to. From the stops we made in towns and at restaurants to our own evening wrap up conversations were some of the best conversations I’ve had in recent years. It was like conversing with an old friend or family member. We covered family, career, philosophy, current events, you name it…we probably either touched on it or knowingly avoided it.

For such a brief time in each other’s spheres, there were many stories and pieces of advice sprinkled in there. Many of those I will remember and take forward. One, however, I think needs to be shared and I’m confident Matt would agree. Raising Cane’s. If memory serves me correct, order the toast, and ask those to be B.O.B.S. This is butter on both sides. Make Matt proud, go get some bobs from cane’s.

Thank you for everything Matt. May you rest in peace and may your presence and impact to the many many people you touched in your time here live on, I know it will for me and I’m grateful for our brief but wonderful time together.

Eric