We recently connected with Matthew Cahill and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Matthew thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

We partner with businesses to identify, analyze and address how bias is impacting their business. We know that bias can destroy business. Unmitigated bias erodes the bottom line for every organization. The question is if or when but where, how and why. This is the evolution of my life’s work. The conceptual models I use provide a common language and framework that empowers employees to tackle tough issues.

Included in this process is the identification of hidden, and sometimes not-so-hidden, biases that impact company performance. We take an introspective, self-reflective approach to move organizations from bias to belonging® and coach organizational leaders to reduce mental mistakes, strengthen employee relationships, and increase productivity.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m on a mission to de-mystify and de-stigmatize cognitive biases, disrupt social biases of all types and dismantle bias that’s become institutionalized in our respective businesses and public agencies.

The bias ecosystem is one of the conceptual models I use to provide more precise entry points for deeper conversations.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Before the Percipio Company was even a side hustle, it was a one-off referral from a former boss. In 2010, he started a contract as a technical architect for a burgeoning start-up and called me out of the blue. “Just go and talk to them. You don’t have to leave your new job” was his guidance which I followed.

Turns out, they needed what I was offering and I drove home kicking myself because I dropped an hourly rate that likely could have been much more. I scrambled to create the business entity created as the SOW template I searched for had <insert business name here> and then had to get a business checking account created so I could deposit the check. Humble beginnings for a company that now claims Linkedin as it’s first client.

For the next 6-7 years, the Percipio Company was a general partnership and evolved to a legitimate “side hustle” Through word-of-mouth, I continued working with companies like the Neilson Company, Salesforce, and other large organizations looking for someone to assist with customized workshops and/or diverse initiatives. In 2017, I very arrogantly left my primary employer and thought I would find another full-time job in a historically similar turnaround: less than 2 weeks. After about 2 months, it because apparent that the positions I was now looking for are more senior and not as easy to land. Motivated by some apparent age bias in the tech industry and a fierce commitment to pursuing my passions, I converted the general partnership to a Corporation and current iteration of the Percipio Company evolved.

As there is only one me, I scale through deliberate partnerships and leveraging a network of trusted coaches and advisors to meet specific client needs. I measure milestones in IP registered with patent office, customer referrals, and waking up each day loving what I do.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Pivot. Probably the most overused term in 2020 but it accurately describes what happened with the Percipio Company. In January 2020, I hosted a film screening of “Bias” attended by 100+ prospects, colleagues and trusted referral partners. We held it at the DocuSign executive briefing room and I moderated a panel of 3 Bias experts in cognitive, social and institutional biases. It was an amazing kickoff to what was projected to be the best year ever for the Percipio Company.

Then COVID.

By the end of March, every existing client left messages like “we love what you do but we can’t maintain any external vendors at this time” I had a 3 day window after I cashed my last outstanding invoice and no visible pipeline. I decided then to dust off the best practices for virtual meetings and created “Inclusive Leadership in a Virtual World” This weekly gathering now boasts well over 1000 registrations, weekly attendance of 40-50 and 100’s of referrals from people that regularly participate.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://percipiocompany.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/percipiocompany/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/percipiocompany
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/percipiocompany/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/matthewjcahill
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@percipiocompany

Image Credits
Iffel International created some of these images for the Pericpio Company