When Matt Croteau graduated from UConn, he wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted to do, but he knew that staying curious and saying “yes” to new opportunities would take him further than he ever imagined.
During his time as a student, Matt majored in psychology and research, with a particular interest in industrial-organizational psychology. He was also heavily involved with the club baseball team. What began as a fun way to be involved on campus ended up bringing him to a pivotal realization: he loved competition.
After graduation, Matt began his career in human resources. Over time, he found himself missing that sense of competition and decided to make a change. His next role in helping to start a craft beer distributor opened the door to his current role in sales. In the distribution role, he was exposed to the competitive atmosphere of fighting against other brands to sell beer to various retailers. From there, a friend working at Suzy, a market research firm, brought him onto the scene. This was only his first experience researching and analyzing market data, but he knew that this was the type of work that was meant for him. He stayed at Suzy for over six years where he quickly moved up the ranks and even moved to his dream location: New York City.
Matt now leads enterprise sales at Knit, a research-driven AI platform. He works with Fortune 500 brands to understand their strategies and perspectives, build an insight plan, and drive partnerships. Matt describes his job as being unexpected, but to him that’s part of what keeps the job exciting. He emphasizes the importance of teamwork within his role, mentioning how he is like a “quarterback”, or someone who brings necessary teams together to drive a deal forward. In his experience, effective teamwork shows brands or agencies that his team can create value for them, which is a key part of the job.
Matt is not only passionate about the work he does, but also the impact it can make. He notes how important it is for everyone to feel represented within the brands he works with and the products they might put out. “There’s been some work that we’ve done giving voice to underrepresented voices, like the LGBTQ+ community. It’s great to see that sort of work brought to life, and I do hope that our partners can lean into that.”
Having this opportunity to work with big companies and change the tide isn’t something he believed he’d ever be doing, but UConn helped Matt step out of his comfort zone and pushed him into new spaces, even when he felt like he didn’t belong. That experience allowed him to branch out and discover that he was more capable than he ever imagined.
Matt credits UConn for fostering an environment that encourages students to become the person they aspire to be, not just the person they think they can be. He emphasizes how the university consistently promoted a culture of seeking support, whether through connecting with professors or tapping into campus resources. Learning to ask for help without hesitation has been a key driver of his growth, especially since his journey after graduation consisted of exploring what was right for him.
He reflects on the contrast between his college self and who he is today: someone who now regularly speaks with leaders from some of the world’s largest corporations, once a reality that felt far out of reach. But looking back, it’s clear the foundation for his path started during his time at UConn. “I didn’t really have a set plan coming out of college, but I did have the tools to be able to bet on myself, feel confident in who I was and then continue that. I owe a lot to my time at UConn.”
For students who may want to follow a similar path, or for any student unsure of what comes next, Matt advises not to worry about having everything figured out by the time you graduate. He agrees that it can be intimidating, especially if the people you surround yourself with seem like they have it figured out. The most important part is to trust your instincts and pay attention to what you’re truly passionate about. For Matt, it wasn’t a specific job title or subject, but rather a sense of competition and teamwork that led him to his current career. It was less about chasing a clear-cut title and more about following the energy of what excited him, and he encourages students to do the same. Focus less on having the perfect plan and more on understanding what drives you. In the end, it’s exploring, taking a chance, and saying “yes” that will point you in the right direction.
