A chat with CIO Matt Watkins
Some executives give off a polished, all-business vibe. But when I hopped on a Zoom with Matt Watkins, CIO of IMA Financial Group, the first thing I noticed was how relaxed and open he was, even with a packed schedule.
We chatted from our homes just outside Denver, where both of us live near the mountains. It’s the kind of place where fall hits early. The air gets crisp and the trees start flashing yellow and orange before the rest of the city catches on. We both agreed there’s something grounding about living out here, even though his workweek is often spent downtown.
Still, he made time for our conversation and that says a lot.
Matt leads digital transformation strategies at scale. From cloud infrastructure to robotic process automation and advanced analytics, he’s driving the future of how his organization works. He’s a big-picture thinker with a practical, execution-first mindset and the kind of leader who doesn’t just stay current with tech, but finds the signal in the noise and moves fast on what matters.
So when we started talking about cold outreach and vendor meetings, his response wasn’t surprising. He’s using our platform to help manage the chaos.
“The biggest thing for me is the meetings are just much more targeted. I can review the request, make sure it fits with what we’re working on strategically, and only move forward when it makes sense.”
He’s passed on plenty too. And that’s by design.
“The donation is an investment. It forces companies to really think about whether they’re a good fit before they request the meeting.”
And when vendors reach out to him directly on his other channels, Matt points them to Influence Board.
“If they’re not willing to make that small donation, it saves me time upfront. And if they are, it tells me they’ve at least done some homework.”
The meetings he does take tend to stand out.
“The folks I’ve met through Influence Board come better prepared. They know more about what we’re trying to do. It’s a big difference from the usual spray-and-pray cold calls.”
But what really makes this work feel different is the way it ties into something personal.
Matt’s go-to nonprofit is Children’s Hospital Colorado. And as a dad, he’s seen firsthand how impactful their care is.
“We’ve had our share of stitches and broken bones. They’ve always done an amazing job. Even when our kids come in scared, they know how to talk to them. It’s a different level of care.”
“I’ve seen what they do, not just for us, but for families who are going through so much more. I’m proud to support them.”
That ‘cause connection’ creates a ripple effect, both in how he views the time, and how the meeting itself starts.
“It’s a great feeling to know these meetings are helping a cause. We all get caught up in the day-to-day of corporate life. This brings some perspective back.”
“The charity piece always comes up at the start of the meeting. It’s a good reminder that there’s more to this than just business.”
When I asked him what he’d tell another exec thinking about joining the platform, he didn’t hesitate:
“It saves you time, it supports good causes, and you’re probably taking these meetings anyway. Influence Board just makes it all more intentional.”
Before we signed off, I reminded him there was a new meeting request waiting for his review. He laughed, thanked me, and promised to check it out.
In a noisy world full of meetings and distractions, Matt’s figured out how to tune into what matters and how to make each conversation count.
✨ Written by Crystal Hatch, Director of Product & Design at Influence Board. Big thanks to Matt for carving out the time and sharing his experience.
