Welcome to another episode of The Roadmap, where host Lee Heisman sits down with Matt Heather, CEO of Savant Technologies, to discuss his personal and professional journey. Heather highlights how overcoming personal challenges shaped his leadership and guided the growth of his company.
According to Heather, he unfortunately faced a serious battle with alcohol addiction that threatened both his career and family life. But, with support from his wife, family, and close friends, he entered a 90-day treatment program at Karen Renaissance in Boca, Florida, focusing entirely on personal recovery and self-reflection.
"Recovery was the hardest thing I ever did, but it was also the most fulfilling.”
Before becoming CEO, Heather built a diverse corporate career. He started with internships at his stepfather’s education agency, then spent six years at advertising firm BBDO working on automotive brands, where he gained early exposure to technology and innovative marketing strategies. He later joined the digital promotions company ePrize, managing accounts across the consumer goods, retail, and finance industries, and served as Vice President of Client Solutions at Qualfon/Dialog Direct, a BPO that handled warehousing, fulfillment, and call centers.
In 2023, Heather took the helm at Savant Technologies, recently rebranded under Evergreen’s portfolio of managed service providers. Evergreen’s decentralized model allows CEOs autonomy while providing shared resources and best practices. Heather worked closely with founder Heisman during the transition, which helped him quickly understand the company’s operations and establish trust with staff and clients.
Heather emphasized the importance of time and transparency in leadership. Early decisions included streamlining vendor partnerships from more than 50 to under 30 and aligning teams with the company’s new strategic direction.
Under Heather’s leadership, Savant has invested in growth by hiring a chief growth officer and business development representative, focusing on expanding its client base while maintaining strong relationships with existing customers. Operational and technical expertise resides with his team, allowing Heather to concentrate on relationship-building and long-term strategy.
Heather’s journey demonstrates the connection between personal resilience and professional success, showing how recovery and self-reflection can strengthen both leadership and business outcomes.
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