December 2021 Alumnus of the Month: Matt Walker
Alumnus of the Month:December 2021
Matt Walker is our Verulam School Alumnus of the Month for December 2021. Matthew left Verulam School in 2008 and is now an Account Director for LinkedIn
Please tell us a little about yourself – where do you work and how did you get into this role?
Born and raised in St Albans I now live in the suburbs of New York City. I work for LinkedIn as an Account Director; managing the business relationships between LinkedIn and US Healthcare organisations.
Having left university, I started out in Sales and eventually emigrated to the US. During that time I helped to launch a product for a digital marketing agency where I gained experience in the Tech Industry. I’ve now been working for LinkedIn since 2016.
What are some of your proudest achievements since leaving Verulam School?
- Graduating Uni
- Moving to the US
- Building a successful career in a great industry
- Starting a family.
What advice would you give someone looking to follow a similar career path?
Be genuinely curious in your interactions with people and listen. Curiosity in my sales career has been massively helpful in seeking to understand my customers challenges, so I can propose a solution to solve that problem. There is a misconception that salespeople are great talkers, but I have found that the most successful professionals are often the best listeners.
How have your experiences at Verulam School contributed to your life and successes since leaving school?
I credit my time at Verulam in shaping the way I interact with those around me. I was fortunate enough to go to school with people from lots of different backgrounds, races and religions. This has been so beneficial in helping me build relationships and connect with people from all walks of life.
During my time at Verulam, I was always involved in sports which has helped me to develop resilience. You won’t win every week, and I have found that the ability to bounce back and learn from a negative experience, or a loss, is often far more beneficial that just enjoying the wins. This is hugely important once in the working world.
I was also fortunate to have a wonderful group of friends, who I still talk with regularly, while at Verulam. While we all moved into different walks of life, we still motivate and push each other in our chosen field.
What House were you in at Verulam School and can you describe one of your fondest memories?
Churchill – I always loved the inter-house tournaments at school and the friendly rivalries we built with other houses. Some of my closest friends today were classmates of mine while at Verulam and we still talk about the experiences we shared.
What’s next?
I have a young family that I love spending time with. I’m fortunate to work from home, and spend as much time with my Wife and Son as possible. My love for competition is still as strong as ever and I plan on continuing to compete in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu!
We love hearing what our alumni have been doing since leaving Verulam School. Each month, we are inviting a member of our alumni community to share their story of life after Verulam. If you’re an alumnus who would like to take part, or you’d like to volunteer an alumnus that you know, then please drop us an email at alumni@verulam.herts.sch.uk.
