Matthew John Brady

Matt Brady is an entrepreneur and educator. His latest startup is Volley Solutions, a web-based collaborative decision optimization platform that helps organizations elevate their decision-making culture, using proven decision science. He also teaches at the University of Colorado Boulder - Leeds School of Business, and writes and curates content at HumanCentered to promote building ethics & empathy into innovation. The last three companies with which he has had an executive role have successfully resulted in acquisitions by world-class strategic buyers and private equity firms. Matt is a passionate builder of people and organizations, based in Denver and Boulder. See also: Personal

Founder & CEO, Volley Solutions

2020 - Present

Make key decisions using information, not intuition.

Volley is a SaaS platform that improves operational results by enabling decision-makers and decision-facilitators to weigh myriad inputs from all necessary stakeholders for critical decisions, thus achieving organizational alignment, increased confidence, and accelerated pace.

At the core of the platform is proprietary Decision Engine technology that facilitates discrete decisions, open-ended decisions, and continuous decisions common to all organizations. Volley is research-driven, human-centered, and outcomes-focused.

Don’t make another decision on intuition alone. Leverage the pioneering capabilities of "Collaborative Decision Optimization" for all of your important decisions. Decide better with Volley.

Strategic Advisor, V2

2020 - Present

V2 develops intellectual property to enable individuals and organizations to see the future, and then achieve it. Strategic Management Consulting services include:

• M&A Advisory - Accelerate growth with a blend of organic and inorganic expansion. Understand the strategic landscape and competitive threats. Collect data, evaluate scenarios, and execute a plan

• Product Strategy - Create multiple recurring revenue streams through design thinking, human-centered technology, scalable SaaS product delivery, and high-margin subscription services.

• Operational Excellence - Achieve organizational alignment and deliver the initiatives that matter the most. Monitor progress against goals, measure KPIs, and maybe even take a day off.

Investor, Opolis

2015 - Present | a digital employment cooperative for the independent worker, providing health benefits, shared services, and payroll via web3, backed by well-known VC firms Draper, Greenfield, Polygon, and Consensys MESH

Investor, ETHDenver

2018 - Present | the largest and longest running ETH cryptocurrency and blockchain event in the world, called the "Super Bowl of cryptocurrency"; member-owned Community Innovation Festival; with the genesis of SporkDAO in 2021, ETHDenver is the first event-based DAO in the world

Advisor, solar company

2014 - 2017 | SaaS platform for commercial monetization of solar panel arrays; acquired by Strategic Buyer

Shareholder, FinTech company

2008 - 2013 | credit data analytics and services; exited to Private Equity, then successfully completed IPO

CEO & Board Member, AbsenceSoft

2017 - 2020 | acquired by Private Equity

AbsenceSoft has one simple goal – to create the best-in-class software for companies to manage FMLA and other leaves of absence, easily, efficiently, compliantly, and cost-effectively. The Company’s proprietary software, AbsenceTracker, provides organizations with the tools to improve productivity, increase compliance and reduce costs.

Responsible for the growth and overall success of the company. Oversaw all aspects of the business, including Marketing & Sales, Product Development, IT, and Operations. Defined culture and set partnership strategies for the company. Pioneered customer conference, grew 100% YoY. Managed all aspects of the investment baking relationship, including due diligence & closing. AbsenceSoft was acquired by Bow River Capital's Software Growth Equity Fund, then by Norwest Venture Partners, and most recently by Luminate Capital Partners.

Co-Founder & CTO, Opolis

2015 - 2017 | acquired & recapitalized by Private Equity

Opolis is the curated marketplace connecting people and career opportunities through trusted advisors.

Principal strategist for marketplace products. Leader of product innovation at Opolis, directly responsible for Marketing, Technology, and Operations. Oversaw a full brand launch and significant expansion of marketing automation (9x increase in lead volume), resulting in the best sales performance three months in a row. Owned the product roadmap and release plans and devised a “Kevlar quilt” architecture of 12+ best-of-breed solutions integrated in a proprietary manner. Led critical aspects of the initiative to reduce $1M from the annual operating budget. Served as a key executive contributor to strategic direction, all personnel decisions, and ongoing investor relations.

COO, 2lemetry

2014 - 2015 | acquired by Strategic Buyer

2lemetry was an Internet of Things platform provider that powers the connected enterprise, tying people, processes, data, and devices together -- transforming raw data into real-time actionable intelligence.

Responsible for the overall operations of 2lemetry, including product, pricing, sales enablement, consulting, finance & accounting, and go-to-market execution. Oversaw interactions with outside counsel, multiple banking providers, the benefits & HR services provider, 2lemetry's physical facilities, and interactions with all vendors globally. Heavily involved in the capital raise process, including a significant institutional venture capital investment from Salesforce Ventures and the subsequent acquisition of 2lemetry by Amazon Web Services (AWS; NASDAQ:AMZN).

Speaker, Vistage Worldwide

2023 - Present

Vistage is the world’s most trusted CEO & executive leadership network.

Learn more about Matthew's Speaker Profile, on the Vistage Events page, then schedule an engagement with your leadership team via the Booking Portal.

Instructor, University of Colorado Boulder - Leeds School of Business

2021 - Present

Leeds is Colorado's top business school, and through an innovative approach to theoretical and practical instruction, is transforming the future of global business.

Matt serves in the role of Assistant Teaching Professor in the Management and Entrepreneurship emphasis at Leeds, described in greater detail on Matthew's Faculty Profile. Awards and recognition include:

• David B. Balkin and Rosalind and Chester Barnow Endowed Innovative Teaching Award
• Leeds AI Teaching Excellence Challenge Grants (2x)
• Gillespie Award for mentoring entrepreneurs
• Daniels Fellowship for ethics in decision-making

Author, HumanCentered

2021 - Present

Premier course offerings on the Management of Digital Transformation and Business Technology are focused on driving customer and stakeholder value via:

• Customer Success with Salesforce CRM - key topics include 360-degree customer view, cloud computing & SaaS, and Salesforce CRM; students complete an independent project practicum and are prepared for the initial Salesforce certification

• Low-Code for Citizen Developers - key topics include business stability & agility, cloud computing & SaaS, and application orchestration; students complete multiple agile project sprints and are prepared to work with and in business technology roles

• Leadership in the Digital Age - key topics include digital disruption, becoming a digital ambassador & adventurer, and remodeling the enterprise

• Data Management for Business - key topics include organizational modeling, data management, and system optimization
• Decide Better - Decision Science for Ethical Leader - an immersive workshop on decision-making for students, aspiring leaders, and executives; I offer a similar workshop through the Vistage executive network globally

These courses are available to advanced undergraduates students and are relevant to: Information Management; Business Analytics; Leadership; Strategy & Entrepreneurship; Operations Management; Finance; Marketing. They comprise the Enterprise Integration track within the Information Management emphasis in the Management & Entrepreneurship concentration at the University of Colorado Boulder - Leeds School of Business.

Further, Matthew has been involved in the following events in the Boulder startup community:

• CU Low-Code Sustainability Hackathon - an annual event that allows students at all levels to gain experience, build skills, and win prizes ... all for a good cause. I founded this event when I joined the Faculty, and it is now part of the acclaimed CU Boulder New Venture Challenge (NVC) signature entrepreneurship program of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative — is CU Boulder’s “flight simulator” for students and employees driven to create real-world impact through new startups, organizations and endeavors

• Boulder Founder Summit - brand-new gathering designed to spark lasting connections between student entrepreneurs and Boulder’s thriving startup ecosystem. This annual event is a collaborative effort between CU Boulder, the Boulder Chamber, and the local founder community, coming together with one shared goal: to empower students to launch and grow bold ideas — and to give local entrepreneurs direct access to fresh talent, energy, and campus resources. Whether you’re a student exploring entrepreneurship, a founder eager to give back, or a local leader looking to shape the next wave of innovation, this summit is for you.

Learn more about Matthew's broader vision for building ethics & empathy into innovation on HumanCentered.

Matt is involved in the following organizations and causes that align with his values:

• Board Member, Society of Decision Professionals - SDP is the "World Forum on Decision Making", equipping decision architects and leaders across industries and around the world to "make a great decision, every time"

• Founder, Low-Code Sustainability Hackathon - started the event at the University of Colorado Boulder; initially responsible for vision, strategy, fundraising, judging, and MC'ing; the Hackathon is now part of the New Venture Challenge, to equip future business leaders and product innovators with technology and entrepreneurial skills

• Faculty Advisor, CU Salesforce Student Group - guiding the leaders in creating industry partnerships, hosting events (including the Hackathon), and writing content; this is the first such student group in the world

Prior community involvement includes:

• Ambassador, Daniels Fund - selected as a winner of the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative grant to develop collegiate-level programs to further infuse ethics into every stage of students’ learning, creating demonstrable values of integrity, accountability, and transparency necessary to guide successful business careers

• Advisor, Grand Challenge - a leader in earth and space sciences, the University of Colorado Research & Innovation Office hosts an annual Grand Challenge to "explore our own planet from the depths of the ocean to the upper limits of the atmosphere"; Matt served as a judge and contributor to the selection of the winner based on scoring of intellectual merit, impact, and multidisciplinary skills

• Judge, Race & Case – national business ethics competition that takes place at the University of Denver - Daniels Graduate College of Business and in Breckenridge CO; since 2004, top U.S. and international business schools have competed for cash prizes and the coveted Daniels Cup

• Pastor, Antioch FC – member of the founding Church Planting team that completed an intensive year of training and then relocated from Wheaton IL; volunteer Families section leader at Antioch Community Church in Fort Collins CO

TransUnion

Senior Director
2008 - 2014 • 6 yrs | Denver / Chicago

TransUnion is a sophisticated, global credit reporting and risk information provider striving to use Information for Good.

Responsible for setting the strategic CRM direction for >1,200 users globally. Delivered results that exceeded “stretch goals” for Sales Operations for five consecutive years. Launched CRM platform in 6 months to 18 countries, spanning 11 currencies, 10 time zones, and two languages. Achieved high adoption rates and measured impact on business via deals won. Oversaw implementation of a dozen after-market solutions via the SalesForce.com AppExchange. Negotiated favorable terms with key platform providers, significantly reducing annual costs without affecting the scope of subscriptions. In doing so, I established more collaborative dialog with key vendor teams.

Technology Manager
2006 - 2008 • 2 yrs

Led >45K hour development effort of enterprise-wide solution delivery platform using SOA architecture. Directed the build of a new data management system to expand credit reporting capabilities for customers and consumers based on one of the largest relational database implementations in the world. Brought together diverse groups to define a strategy to enhance the data management platform. Assembled a team of subject matter experts and managed scope and timelines using a methodology tailored for this large project. The solution entailed high availability, high-performance online transaction processing, technology modernization, and process maturity. Built dashboards and used a metrics-based management approach to report status and risks to executive sponsors. Reported results weekly to the CIO.

Development Manager
2003 - 2006 • 3 yrs

Led 20 senior software engineers and 20 offshore contractors accountable for $100M in annual revenue from online customers. Controlled a $3.5M budget for personnel, cap ex, and software licensing. Increased YOY sales of batch services by 64%, achieving the goal of 1 billion transactions. Conceived and managed the development of an eCommerce simulator, facilitating rapid build of online solutions and allowing current and prospective customers to trial a product before purchase. Substantially increased morale by implementing a team scorecard to measure accomplishments, progress, and key issues and instituting career planning for each associate. Turned around a struggling team 30+ days backlogged with completing jobs for the largest business customer, bringing the team out of the hole within five months.

Solutions Architect
2001 - 2003 • 2 yrs

Managed over 30 project iterations and releases using stage-gate and iterative methodologies. Analyzed strategic business domains to implement a platform for all consumer products. Conducted technical diligence and successfully led the year-long process of integrating the acquired company’s platform into TransUnion to support consumer credit reporting growth strategy. Designed the model for the next-generation product delivery platform for new acquisitions. Led collaboration with an outside development firm to build an online consumer authentication solution. Reported to the CTO.

Idea Integration (now Astadia)

Project Lead
2000 - 2001 • 1 yr | Chicago

Directed delivery of an extranet portal for Leo Burnett from storyboards to final production, facilitating media planning for Fortune 500 clients such as Kraft and GM. Heavily involved in the design of a media tool that won TelevisionWeek’s “Media Buyer of the Year” Award.

Project Manager
2000 - 2000 • less than a year

Instituted risk mitigation and quality process, greatly improving customer deliverables and satisfaction. Remained 100% billable while managing multiple projects and teams.

Procter & Gamble

System Analyst
1998 - 2000 • 2 yrs | Cincinnati

A key contributor to implementing global B2B integration standards for the North American Order Shipping & Billing Division, with billings totaling $100M+ daily. Implemented web-based solution order management; implemented EDI standards for global retail leaders in Brazil. I headed an on-campus recruiting effort at Purdue University, successfully hiring >10 skilled technical associates.

Intern
1997 - 1998 • less than a year

Intern
1996 - 1997 • less than a year

Learn more about Matthew's Speaker Profile, on the Vistage Events page, then schedule an engagement with your leadership team via the Booking Portal.