National Guardian Life Insurance Company had the privilege of engaging Matt for an important reimagining of our “North Star” statements; Purpose, Vision and Mission.  In addition we had the added goal of making those statements tangible within our existing strategy and relatable for our associates.  A tall order, but Matt’s approach to the process was both unique and inspiring.  Matt deftly lead many sessions with a variety of stakeholders to gather information used to ultimately guide discussions with executive leadership that achieved an outcome impossible without Matt being at the table.  Matt’s intrinsic ability to recognize what’s important and glean a variety of nuances within strategy discussions to ultimately produce the desired outcome is a talent few consultants possess.  NGL is a better organization after our engagement with Matt.

I had the opportunity and distinct pleasure to work closely with Matt on a rare and high-impact corporate strategy initiative. His leadership was instrumental in Pacific Life’s bold decision to enter a new market by building a greenfield business from the ground up.

Matt led the effort from the start—bringing together stakeholders across corporate strategy, corporate development, risk, actuarial, and more, while also assembling a standout group of industry advisors. He began by helping the executive team deeply understand the market dynamics, product landscape, technology trends, and competitive pressures. That foundational work led to the creation of a preliminary strategy, capital allocation analysis, and growing conviction across leadership in the path forward.

From there, Matt drove the development of the market entry and investment theses, culminating in multiple Board presentations, an approved investment proposal, and early-stage mobilization planning. This was a once-in-a-decade strategic decision—and it wouldn’t have happened without Matt’s leadership, clarity of thought, and ability to build alignment through complex, high-stakes decisions.

Working with Matt is terrific. We refreshed our corporate strategy and Matt helped guide us, piece by piece, from foundation building to strategic framework to values and mindsets. We would regularly revisit and improve upon our previous work which, without seeing it then, just made our finished product that much stronger and that much more aligned. The methodical and focused process Matt brought us through made the end product excellent and well received by the organization. Many thanks!

Matt jumped in fast and, within two weeks, gave us a level of clarity we hadn’t had before. He surfaced insights that were both new and exactly right—and laid out a clear, practical path forward that we started implementing the next week.

What stood out most was how quickly he understood our culture and earned trust across the team. His recommendations made sense not just on paper, but in the real world we’re operating in. And he did all of this without any background in our industry.

If you’re a business leader facing stalled initiatives or growth challenges, Matt Clifford is the partner you need to ignite progress. While others shy away from complex problems, Matt thrives on tackling them head-on.

With over two decades of experience, Matt brings an unparalleled depth of expertise that makes his learning curve practically non-existent. What truly sets him apart is his ability to navigate ambiguity with a structured, programmatic approach that delivers tangible results—not just reports. He aligns leadership, empowers teams, and unlocks untapped potential across organizations, regardless of the sector.

Matt’s approach is built on empathy. He listens deeply, prioritizes individual and organizational needs, and ensures the “right answer” is always the one that works best for you. Having seen Matt’s transformative impact firsthand, I can confidently say he’s the trusted advisor you want in your corner. His integrity is unwavering, so you’ll never have to wonder if he’ll achieve your goals—because he’ll exceed them.