Meet The Team: Matthew Pike, Sales Development Representative

Tell us a little about yourself, Matthew!

I’d describe myself as a bit unconventional and a very curious person. I’m currently a PhD candidate in public health, with a master’s degree in energy law and an undergrad in political science—all different areas of study, but all areas that interest me.

Over the past few years I’ve discovered an obsession with endurance sports, with my focus now on long-distance triathlons. (Now I just need to learn to swim properly…)

I’m a Nunatsiavut Inuk and I'm very proud of my heritage and the resilience of my elders and ancestors. A continuous goal for me is for people, especially Indigenous Peoples, to take inspiration from whatever massive goal I'm going after and decide to take a chance to go after their own biggest and wildest dreams.

With all that said, the biggest joys in my life are being a fiancé to Jillian and a father to my (almost) one-year-old daughter, Hannah. Simply put, life is so much better with Jillian and Hannah. 

‍How did you first get into sales development?

I went for a 20km run at 4am during a 100km/h wind snowstorm and sent the CEO a video telling him why I wanted to join CoLab. I told him I’m not afraid to get uncomfortable and do what it takes to get the job done (it was -25C out at the time). A bit unconventional but here I am!

Why did you first join CoLab? What’s the most exciting thing about working here?

I was working at a mining company for 3 years and the job was rewarding. Our office was in the same building as Verafin, which of course is the biggest tech success story in NL. When I started to look into CoLab, I saw similar potential in the vision and purpose, with both having a BHAG (big hairy audacious goal).

After spending a career working alongside engineering leaders, along with my fiancé being an engineer, it was easy to see the potential. And I also believe that’s the most exciting thing about working here. We’re changing how engineers do their work, and being part of that monumental shift is exciting. If we can help get safer mining equipment to underground miners sooner, or prevent heavy equipment from being unsafely designed, that’s the kind of stuff that gets you out of bed in the morning.

‍If you had to be shipwrecked on a deserted island, but all your human needs—such as food and water—were taken care of, what two items would you want to have with you?

With food and water taken care of, I’d want to have the best tent money can buy. The other item would be a satellite phone. :)