Meet Damian Matheson
Damian works with existing partners to ensure they see the full potential that myBlueprint has to offer their schools, and also has the opportunity to work with and educate the school boards who are considering making the move to myBlueprint.
We asked Damian a few questions to help you get to know him better. Here’s what he had to say:
What does Partner Development mean?
One of my favourite things about myBlueprint is that we all wear many hats. Every day offers something different. Because of this, it’s hard to define it perfectly, however, you could distill it down to:
- Working with school boards who aren’t yet partners to learn about their education, career/life planning needs (sales)
- Working with and visiting existing partners to help them maximize the potential of what the program can do for their schools and students (support)
- Working with the team to strategize how we can continue to grow the company, keep our partners happy, and keep the myBlueprint team smiling (strategy)
Many other companies might call this role Business Development, however, every time we onboard a new school or board, we don’t think of it as a new customer, we think of it as entering into a new partnership.
What do you love most about your job?
There are three things that come to mind:
- The autonomy is a big piece. We have a great leadership team here at myBlueprint that really trusts everyone to do their job to the best of their abilities. When you hire smart people and trust them to do their job, you don’t need to micromanage them.
- The impact that this program has on staff and students. When a parent, or educator calls in to thank you for bringing this program to their school, or better yet when you have a student tell you how awesome they think the program is, it is a great reminder of why we’re all so driven to come into work every day.
- The ability to explore Canada. I have been able to visit so many different parts of the country that I never thought I would, thanks to myBlueprint.
How did you know you wanted to work in a sales role?
If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, past or present, who would it be and why?
There isn’t a specific person I have in mind, however, there is a type. I have always been very interested/fascinated with World War 1 & 2.
When I was younger, I was in Air Cadets, and we took a trip to Europe to visit Vimy Ridge, the beaches of Normandy, and a bunch of other meaningful and historical locations. That trip blew my mind.
I would want to have dinner with the men and women that were involved in the war. From the soldiers on the front lines, to the nurses and doctors, to everyone back in Canada lending a hand to support the cause. I want to hear their stories.
What are some of your favourite foods?
I wish I had a better answer for this, but I don’t. I don’t consider myself much of a foodie.
I’m a big fan of the Beyond Meat burgers, a ‘Brooklyn’ pizza from Dominos, and I would never turn down the chance to snack on a chicken shawarma.
What is a lesson you’ve learned at myBlueprint?
I’m not sure exactly where I learned this lesson, but I am confident that I have learned it during my time at myBlueprint:
Whenever you are presented with option A, and option B, it doesn’t mean that option C doesn’t exist; you just need to ask for it.
What was your favourite childhood movie?
Hands down, the Lion King. I’m a bit nervous about the live action remake, however, Beyonce is in it, and Beyonce knows best.
I was also cast as Simba in our grade 2 production of the Lion King; an accomplishment that I still talk about to this day…
What is your favourite vacation spot?
Whenever the girlfriend and I vacation, we try to find a new place to visit. Thailand was a big hit. I would love to head back there, or explore more of Asia in general. I also really want to explore South America. Staying local though, Vancouver Island keeps drawing me back in.
I recently traveled to Vancouver Island for New Years, and to visit with my girlfriend’s cousin. We put together a quick 3-minute video of that trip below if you’re curious. I was behind the camera for most of it.
