Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Beckmann.
Hi Matt, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My professional career followed a non-traditional course, putting me into executive roles immediately.
In 2009-2010, I found myself as the Campaign Manager for a statewide election in Missouri. I was 26 years old and had just finished law school.
That campaign was successful, and led to me accepting the job of Chief of Staff for the Missouri State Auditor.
Then, in 2012, I moved to the private sector and served as Vice President and General Counsel for one of the nation’s largest independent steel distributors. The company’s focus was the energy sector and my work on a variety of complex legal and supply chain matters brought me to Houston full-time in 2014.
In 2018, I launched Ascent Consultants. We provide management consulting and advisory services for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Our consulting services have covered topics including supply chain, risk management, market analysis, and to-market strategy development.
More recently, I completed my ICF Coaching Certification at Rice University’s Doerr Institute, and also became certified to administer and debrief the EQ-i 2.0 Leadership Assessment. Today, Ascent offers executive coaching and leadership development services as well as consulting and advisory services.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not. Being thrust into leadership roles at a young age certainly brought added pressure to those jobs.
My nickname for the first few months as Chief of Staff was “Surfer boy”.
The private sector brought its own set of challenges being young and in an executive role.
Today, I would say that because Professional Services (Consulting, Coaching) is an industry that has so many talented professionals from so many backgrounds that it can be difficult to stand out and find your niche. The faster you can develop your own authentic message to communicate your value proposition the better.
The other big – but incredibly fun – challenge along the way has been building and refining my own team of advisors, experts, vendors, and the like.
Each new project brings a new challenge or complex question to solve, so I’m continually asking, “How do I work on my business and acquire resources that will let me bring maximum value to my clients?”.
We’ve been impressed with Ascent Consultants, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Ascent is built around the premise that leadership is about helping others unlock their potential.
We provide our clients with consulting and advisory services, as well as executive coaching and leadership development services. I’m a licensed attorney, hold an MBA, am an ICF certified coach, a yoga instructor, and a personal trainer.
What sets us apart? My unique perspective gained from a highly diverse, non-traditional career path; the depth and breadth of my leadership experience in demanding, fast-paced environments; and the passion I have for organizational and executive development.
Brand-wise, I think that “Ascent” really captures the essence of this work. We are partnering with clients to help them get from where they are, to where they want to go.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is the byproduct of uncommon resilience and persistence. The secret is to fall in love with the process rather than the result.
Contact Info:
- Email: matt@ascentmethod.com
- Website: ascentmethod.com
- Instagram: @themattbeckmann
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChYcF1R2ya6g8AakAIKw1_g?view_as=subscriber
Image Credits:
Chris Carr
