From West End to Digital Innovation, a Journey of Continuous Learning

Matthew Cutts is EXceptional: Where Innovation Stories Come Alive

This article is part of our Student Series celebrating remarkable journeys in technological innovation. If you are keen to share YOUR learning story, send us a message - we would love to hear from you.

In our inaugural Student Series, we had the privilege of hosting Matthew Cutts, who went from performing to thousands in London's West End to helping businesses find their voice in the digital age. His secret? Learning how to listen.After 27 years in London's West End, Matthew Cutts faced what he calls "a big change." Returning to New Zealand, he discovered his biggest challenge wasn't the career switch itself - it was proving he was still capable of learning. "My transferable skills were not necessarily demonstratable at that point," he reflects.

"Theatre is brilliant, and it pains me that it's not more widely utilized in business," says Matthew, whose journey began unexpectedly at age 17, when he discovered theater during a year in Germany. Within 18 months of moving to London, he was performing in his first West End show - Starlight Express - despite never having roller skated before.

That early experience of jumping into the unknown - learning to skate while performing professionally - proved invaluable. "I'm very fortunate that I had a career which forced me to learn how to learn," Matthew says of his transition to studying at AcademyEX. "So I didn't struggle too much when I came in." Still, he discovered a new kind of performance: the art of listening. "Sometimes I just needed to sit back and rather than putting my hand up... listen intentionally, not just actively."

The art of intentional listening and reflection that Matthew cultivated during his studies now shapes his approach to helping others communicate effectively. "It's not what I want to tell someone," he explains, "it's what they need to hear at that point in time to allow them to thrive." Much like his time on stage, where he had to "listen as if I'm hearing it for the very first time," Matthew helps organisations and individuals navigate their communications with the same fresh perspective and authenticity.

"We have to treat each one individually like we're hearing this for the first time," he says. "You walk out on stage, and what worked on Tuesday night doesn't work on Wednesday night. You have to listen. The audience are gonna give you signals." It's this same nuanced approach he now brings to helping businesses and individuals tell their stories in the digital age.

Matthew's expertise in communication comes from this unique perspective. His three-point framework for effective communication is refreshingly simple yet powerful:

1. Get your story straight

2. Believe in it 100% - with your heart and soul - do not lie.

3. Behave in a way that supports your story

As Matthew puts it, "Stories buy you time, behaviours earn you trust."

Watch this webinar on our YouTube channel

Want to learn more?

Connect with Matthew Cutts on LinkedIn to learn more about his services and approach to authentic communication in the digital age:

• Public speaking coaching

• Internal communications consulting

• Digital transformation storytelling

• Corporate communication strategy

Your Future at academyEX

Ready to write your own transformation story? Join us at academyEX, where we're helping professionals reimagine their futures through technology and innovation. Our Master of Technological Futures program offers the perfect blend of practical skills and forward-thinking perspective to help you make your next big leap.

Visit academyex.com to learn more about our programs and join our community of exceptional innovators.