Leaders of Change: Matt Moog
MATT MOOG is the CEO of PowerReviews, a fast growing software company with 1,000 ecommerce brand and retail clients around the world. PowerReviews helps its clients collect, moderate and syndicate user generated content and customer feedback such as reviews, questions, images, and videos. The PowerReviews Open Network serves 1 billion shoppers a month. Matt also founded Built In, a resource for growing technology companies, the FireStarter Fund, an early stage venture capital fund, and chaired the project to launch 1871, a leading co-working space in Chicago for early stage technology companies.
Why did you choose to pursue eCommerce in your career? Because I love technology, software, data, design and user experience.
What is your biggest strength, and how have you used it for your success in eCommerce? I am persistent, optimistic and adaptable.
What is the weirdest skill or talent to come in handy in your eCommerce experience? Making waffles.
How have you most successfully influenced change within your organization (or with your clients)? By building consensus and giving people time and data to see the big picture.
What was your most “valuable” career failure, and why? I was CEO of a publicly-traded company that nearly went bankrupt. Lots of life lessons.
In the last five years, what new belief, behavior or habit has most improved your life? Drink lots of water. Exercise. Get back to people quickly.
What are you learning right now? How to profitably scale a SaaS company, drive innovation and foster a strong culture.
What are the 1-3 songs that would make up your career soundtrack today?
- Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
- We Will Rock You by Queen
- Burning Down the House by Talking Heads
- Welcome to the Show by Emerson Lake & Palmer
What are the 1-3 books you’ve gifted the most or that have greatly influenced your life, and why?
- Scaling Up by Verne Harnish: great book for our management team about growing a company
- The Art of Choosing by Carlos Valles: beautifully written book about how people make decisions
- The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive by Patrick Lencioni: great book to read for a new entrepreneur
If you could have a gigantic billboard for the world to see with anything on it, what would it say, and why? "Assume Positive Intent." and "Make No Little Plans."
What are the worst recommendations or advice you have heard related to eCommerce? Amazon has won.
What advice would you give to a future leader of change about to enter business, or specifically the eCommerce field? Disruptive change takes longer than you think. Stay focused and resilient. Don’t give up and never stop learning.
What specific, industry-related change do you believe will happen that few others seem to see? Reviews have to become integral to the in-store experience.
What is the last thing you bought online, and why? Three recent purchases. An Ember mug, a Taylor Stitch jacket and a pair of Adidas running shoes. All of them caught my eye in social media.
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Leaders of Change is a weekly interview series featuring select industry pioneers who are driving the evolution of commerce, the consumer and everything in between. If you would like to recommend a Leader of Change for consideration, please reach out to me on LinkedIn.