Ex-CDW exec Matzk on new career: 'I've found my calling'

CDW UK's former partner and marketing boss opens up to CRN about starting her new coaching business and why a return to the channel is not completely out of the question

Former CDW UK exec Yvonne Matzk is leaving the channel life behind to embark on a corporate coaching and consulting career.

Matzk left the reseller giant in March and has since become a certified corporate coach, using her decade of experience at CDW to specialise in technology partnerships and women in the tech industry.

"Prior to leaving CDW, I'd always wanted to do more self-development, so I took a coaching course, which was a standalone course with the option to continue and become more qualified," she explained to CRN.

"I took the foundation course, fell in love with it so much and thought ‘I think I've found my calling'. I then finished the entire course and now I'm a fully qualified registered corporate coach with the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches."

Matzk revealed that she left her 10-year career at CDW because she felt she had achieved as much as she could in her role, as well as wanting to spend more quality time with her daughter.

"It was on that coaching course that I suddenly realised what I wanted to do - because I had no idea what that was before leaving CDW," she said.

"I got to a point in my career where I felt like I'd done all I could for the company. When you become part of a big global corporation, it's very difficult to influence any change because a lot of the decisions get made out of the US.

"I was also travelling so much - I travelled 12 weeks last year - and my daughter was really starting to feel that and the guilt that mothers get kicked in and I thought ‘now is a good time to leave'."

She revealed that she has been approached by other companies since her departure from the reseller but that the coaching course made her realise where she wants to put her priorities for now.

"I really thought I'd end up going to work for another big corporate. There were a couple of opportunities on the table but COVID put paid to that a little bit," she said.

"The last few months have been a really good opportunity to spend time reflecting on the last 10 years and spending quality time with my daughter.

"That, combined with the coaching course, made me realise I didn't want to go back into the corporate world yet. I want to try and give something back now and coach women in tech, using my experience and knowledge."

Her coaching will be primarily focused on helping individuals who want help and support understand the intricacies of working with resellers. Similarly, she will be consulting on how to develop an effective relationship with vendors and resellers, build go to market strategies and how to create value in the marketplace.

Her years in the channel have also made her aware of the unique challenges that women in the tech industry face, and she intends to coach women in both the tech and financial sectors on building confidence and resilience in their roles.

"It's the area that I have the most passion for; to be able to help build resilience - because you do need to be resilient in our industry - and gain the confidence to unlock their full potential," she noted.

"I've been coaching a few women as part of the course and to see them change their mindset and how they think about things has been fantastic."

Matzk intends to remain an active figure in the channel through her new career, but a traditional return to corporate life is not on her horizon right now.

"Never say never, but it would have to be a role that would have to give me everything that I want in terms of flexibility. Having that work-life balance and being able to do stuff that is rewarding to other people - if it had all of that, then, of course, I'd consider it," she stated.

"But it would have to be pretty damn awesome to tempt me back!"