Our Team

Ari is unstoppable. Every day is an opportunity, every idea inspires her, and every new conversation is music to her ears. In word association games, when someone says “Arianna”, people say “ass-kicker!” and “eats chickpeas from a can!” Her pet peeve is walking slower than a jog, and her guilty pleasure is slow internet connections because she’s permitted to stop moving.

His character breaks down barriers and his intelligence reinvents better ones! He once sold a blind man a high-performance sports car then taught him to drive with his other senses. Some say he can be summoned by howling at a waxing gibbous moon and unlike Arianna, he thinks no internet is better than slow internet.

If Matchbox were an episode of Who Wants to be a Millionnaire?, Graham would be the game changing lifeline. If we were a bank, the panic button would speed dial his cell phone. Regardless of whether you’re thinking out loud, having a revolutionary epiphany, or sleep talking, he listens attentively and certainly keeps us each feeling uniquely irreplaceable.

Tim (pictured top right) is our treasured Hufflepuff. He owes his lifelong journey of storytelling, leadership, and creative problem solving to a lonesome Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook that he stumbled across in ‘78. He’s shown the dedication of a house-elf and the intuition of Yoda, and we aim to level up together as a party of adventurers in this campaign we call Matchbox.

Things were one way, until they weren’t. Processes and technology did one thing, until they didn’t. But who can explore new tech, revamp production processes, and enhance user experience? Cue Chris! Who swoops in bringing a creative and innovative edge to a system of pandemonium! As the father of three girls, he thrives in the changing norm.

Heather is a globetrotter who ventured across the Atlantic seeking adventure, growth, and virtual event production companies. We were seeking someone with a specific shade of business blue hair, experience raising hedgehogs, and the desire to grab the bull by the horns. Amid the mayhem of a growing company in the chaos of 2020, Heather is a beacon of hope that things will work out. 

Always learning as he goes, Morgan is a fun guy with an insatiable curiosity! He asks tons of questions, in order to drill down to the center of the earth to find out more. His main passions include creating, cultivating, and sharing, his own music and ideas. Morgan is a man of many musical talents, aiming to educate others from his experiences.

We landed on a triple word score with Ella: She’s a devoted traveller, a Scrabble aficionado, a fearless chef, and a patient guide who makes things fall into place. Whether it’s the debits and credits, the front row concert seats and the armchair for reading, time at home, or being on the road, Ella’s perfected the art of balancing.

Tiffany is a beauty inside and out. She’s a huge Friends fan and channels that heartwarming 90’s sitcom energy which keeps us loving life. The clarity, good luck, and strength she gets from Selenite crystals aren’t so different from the qualities she brings to the team! When the stars don’t align, Tiff keeps us smiling, striving, and feeling encouraged.

The world is Nicki’s playground. A queen of mindfulness and self improvement, Nicki can uniquely break the ice in any environment she is put into. On a team of radical visionaries, she turns idealistic propositions into tangible action while consistently serving as a calming presence. Her New Year’s resolution is to practice compassion, which Arianna is grateful for when she misses Nicki’s deadlines.

Alyssa is a self-identifying dweeb infamous for the mixed emotions her Spice Girls cover band created. The dweeb-scale tipped again when she started excelling in judo and bench pressed 75lbs. Her professional and personal confusing yet thrilling track records were accomplished while caring for her pets, prepping year long for Halloween, and living her best life in the aisles of Ikea. 

Dad jokes, silly socks, bad dance moves, guacamole, and being an exceptional narcissist encompass Daniel’s personality. He’s thrilled to be at Matchbox, combining his front-end development skills with his design background. And while he may spend the first hour of his morning hitting snooze, Daniel makes sure to wake up early enough to drink 3 cups of coffee before our daily coffee chats!

Right when you think you’re at wits’ end, you open a message from Damindu and your smile comes back. Somehow, he always knows exactly what we’re hoping for, he takes our vision and turns it into something ten times more beautiful. It’s a wonderful feeling to reach out to Damindu and watch projects grow through his bright, colourful, creative mind!

Rita brings warmth, laughter, and nothing short of literal sunshine wherever she goes! She’s been compared to Scheherazade from One Thousand and One Nights, but despite her ability to share stories from her travels and escapades, she loves to hear stories too. She sees the beauty in each persons’ individuality and identity, always listening with an attentive ear and open heart.

Despite recently becoming the proud father to a bodacious, badass betta fish, as well as having another full-time job, Gift still brings his a-game to help Matchbox grow! He brings a cornucopia of resources to share, and the ability to navigate through them faster than we can say “Gift, stop dressing so well. You’re making the rest of us look bad.”

How does one describe Matthieu other than “You’ll get it when you meet him.” He’s half facilitator, half coach, half genius, half co-creator extraordinaire, half motivator, and full social artist. Yes, the math works out because he’s certainly more than the average human! He embodies the togetherness we strive for, and practices the genuine values that he preaches. 

Imagine Kate on her favorite day: curled up at home with her fluffy orange cat, Kevin, while a loaf of sourdough bakes in the oven. On her balcony, she sees her garden made from carefully uprooted and replanted wildflowers. Kate brings this controlled, calming, gentle energy to the most chaotic of situations, and we are all the better for it.

She’s a gifted events oracle, champion golfer, and undercover troublemaker. After having planned her own first birthday party before learning to speak, Leah realized event planning was an adventure with her name on it. She enters every Zoom room like it’s the best one of her day, and treats everyone like a lifelong friend! Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Like the gravity that keeps the planets in the solar system, Chely protects the company from becoming pure chaos. If anyone had her position, a lot more office supplies would be thrown at walls. She’s the absolute perfect cocktail of level-headedness, friendly chat, and nonchalant chair swinging with the occasional mysterious chuckles.

Jen isn’t just on the ball; she’s ahead of the ball; she knows where the ball is going before the ball even knows. She saves the day in big and small ways across the company, yet her demeanor defaults to positive and her conversation remains effortless. She has earned the title of Resident Weeb as her room has over $500 worth of posters!

ATTENTION ALL CREATIVES! You’ve got to meet Laurence. A huge film buff, fashionista, and lover of literature, she’ll gladly spend an afternoon immersed into a fictional world while seated in her aesthetically cohesive living room. Engage her in philosophical discourse and she’ll gladly participate, while making you laugh along the way without even trying.

As our very own lovely, caring all-around ray of sunshine, Six never fails to make you feel comfortable, seen, and heard. And while Six isn’t the comedian she likes to think she is, she’s passionate about mental health awareness, food adventures, helping others, and what your top five favourite vegetables are.

Gabriela is down to earth, kind, and really silly! In her free time, you’ll find her calling friends to check in, quoting “She’s the Man” for the umpteenth time, editing videos, or talking with her baby nephew over Facetime. She may even be taking Youtube dance lessons; whether it be Zumba, Latin or Ballroom dancing, Gabriela loves to do it all!

Lucy manifests the calm and sensibility that we all crave. There are days where absolutely nothing goes according to plan, and then you see Lucy with her relaxed shoulders, effortless smile, and steady voice. Maybe her background in theatre is being put to use and she’s acting on point? Or maybe she’s got the situation under control and is ready to kick 🍑

Christina’s a yes-person. Always open to switching things up, she’s the type to accept a limerick bio.

Adventure’s her middle name,
Suggest a goal and she’s game!
If you need a friend,
She’ll give to no end,
All doubts will burst into flames.

Event aficionado, globetrotter, speaker of 5 languages – these are all things that describe Emilie. Whether you’re looking for someone to perform an interpretive dance or wiggle their right ear only, she’s the person for the job. Emilie’s always up for an adventure, and we couldn’t be happier to have our very own yes-woman on the team!

Maddy does for Matchbox what himilayan salt lamps do for her! She cleans the air in the Zoom room, soothes allergies to long checklists, boosts our mood and helps us stay calm. The main difference is that lamps are decorative and Maddy is anything but! She’s community-driven and currently has two hands firmly on the wheel.

From bouncing around the world since childhood to kick starting her acting career as a teen, Molly’s work ethic has pushed her to be wise beyond her years. She knows what she wants, and she doesn’t doubt her ability to achieve it. In her free time, you may catch her practicing the flute or crocheting a sweater for her dog!

Sheena is like a cat; she’s quick, agile, and attentive. Unlike (most) cats, she is playful and kind though. She is the one person you can rely on to laugh, no matter how bad your joke is. Her ability with tarot card readings combined with her choice to work with Matchbox also means that we’re all inevitably destined for greatness. Just sayin’…

Jeff ensures that work never feels like work. Behind that computer screen, with a beanie on his head, he is most likely jamming out to one of his self-made lo-fi hip hop tunes. This former DJ and sound engineer has a passion for music, an affinity for making people laugh, and impeccable organizational skills. His optimism shines through right when you need a pick-me-up.

Eva is just as creative as she is enjoyable to be around. When she isn’t styling new outfits or taking beautiful photos, you will likely find her residing on a Greek island binge-watching “New Girl”. Some say she has the same commitment to getting everyone hooked on the show as she does to slaying the game as a Speaker Success Coordinator!

Honestly, we challenge you to dislike Akeem. He’s happy to engage literally anyone in conversation and that charisma makes him a pleasure to have in any Zoom room! He’s the proud founder and mastermind of a hip-hop focused podcast that’s a gateway to great conversation about culture and life. Head and heart, Akeem is present and grounded.

We spend a lot of time producing videos and communicating with people, so the jackpot is finding a creative and funny multimedia producer who is articulate and charming to boot. Meet Sara! This multitalented gal has a solid head on her shoulders, whether it’s a friendly chat, a philosophical discourse, or the creation of beautiful media, she’s all in. 

Damaris is the manifestation of calm. Maybe it’s the perfected audio set-up that captures her laugh, maybe it’s the disarming and intentional way she chooses her words and expresses her thoughts, maybe it’s the thriving plants in the background when we video chat. If ever the sky starts falling, we’re calling Damaris to come put it all in perspective.

When you meet Arden, you know deep inside that he’s a genuinely kind person. He puts others first and makes a room of mismatches feel like old friends. What you won’t know is that his modesty curbs his untouched bragging rights. This star is skilled in digital design, coding, creative media production, and who knows what else. Nothing is unimaginable with this guy.

Matt is a man of many talents. He’ll dip his toes into anything creative – video production, photography, screen writing, painting, you name it. Put him on any sports team, and they’re guaranteed to take the prize. Matt is also the perfect balance between hard working and care-free; he puts his all into everything he does while always maintaining a happy-go-lucky attitude!

“You do you”, says Ryan; a fun, easy going guy, who’s best known for his contagious laugh! Always a good time to be around, this not-so-serious goofy guy is sure to brighten your day. His hidden (and maybe a bit useless) skill is his knack for remembering extremely niche sports stats, even from before he was born.

Quirky and animated, Robert is a one-of-a-kind horror film fanatic with a passion for gore, jump scares, and special effects. Due to his passion for fiction, there’s no surprise that he is a lover of board games. More specifically, a lover of bringing people together to play board games. In his words, “What you see is what you get.”

Nina is a boss-ass independent ninja with a passion for music, linguistics, haikus, and reading tarot cards. Marching to the beat of her own drum, she’ll still always have your back and advocate for what she believes in. And on a Zoom call, her adorable kitten Mythos never fails to make an appearance.

In Shannon’s ideal world, no two days look the same. Hopping from one adventure to the next, falling asleep literally anywhere & everywhere on the way, she is always searching for new cities to visit, new connections to make, and good food to eat. Her brain is constantly buzzing with exciting, innovative ideas ready to blow your mind.

Mishka is sort of like a “bomb-ass nutella stuffed chocolate chip cookie”, where the outside is pretty amazing but the inside is absolute gold! As a student of Theatre Arts in New York, and the proud mother to a newborn baby (hamster) named Reggie, she has a colourful character that brings zest to everything she does.

Gail’s vivacious energy is both palpable and contagious, and the confidence which constantly beams through her is well earned. Hard working and resourceful, all of her achievements stem from her inherent ability to “make it happen,” similarly to her passion for hiking: always climbing to reach the highest peak! And here she is, gazing at the view.

On the surface, Shane is a candid, down-to-earth guy surrounded by his dogs, often listening to Don’t Matter by Akon on repeat. But under the surface, Resilience is Shane’s middle name. He is passionate about self-progression and positive energy, with hard work at the core of everything he does. Once you get comfortable with him, ask about his hidden musical talent.

Bill is the type of excitable genius who will most likely live forever. He has a burning little match in his heart, and he carries it around, stoking the fire in his thoughts and daily activities. We grow, we are constantly refining ourselves, and we feel safe to experiment thanks largely to his attention!

On a typical day, you’ll find Stephanie either curled up reading a book, or working with nonprofits to make the world a better place. Thoughtful, analytical, and well-equipped with a heart of gold, we can always count on Stephanie for an outside-the-box, detailed approach to any situation. As Dr. Seuss said, with perseverance, success is “98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.”

Laura is our rock, but she is no island. She spends her downtime watching Survivor and completing crossword puzzles, and spends her uptime connecting with all corners of the company to make magic happen. Extremely organized and straightforward, stress rarely phases her unwavering determination to tackle anything that comes her way, so bring it on.

What does it mean when Maria isn’t responding to messages? That she is working on creating a virtual experience that will knock your freakin’ socks off. Trust us when we say her code is nothing short of glorious. In addition to being a creative, patient, and dedicated employee, Maja’s also generous and selfless to a fault.

“Never stop learning, spice it up” says Vadim; a self-taught, witty, and cheeky walking encyclopedia. He will often be found up at 4am learning something new for work. He even intuitively knows the time on the microwave! His other passions include soccer, cooking (he makes a great steak), bike rides, and powerlifting.

Lama might just be the funniest person you’ll meet. When not experimenting with fun zoom filters or putting together stand-up comedy sets, she will likely be found chasing after her dreams, travelling the world, or both. She has lived in Dubai, New Zealand and Canada, and they’re all jealous now because she currently resides in our hearts.

Engineer by day, musician by night; this guy is unstoppable. One of the most motivated people you’ll meet, Bob mastered playing piano without knowing how to read music! He’s equally driven in the amazing work he does, and when someone says “jump”, there’s no time to say how high because Bob is already soaring in the clouds.

Othman is the most generous, dedicated and curious person, with a super awesome beard. His insatiable curiosity led him to pursue programming, of which he fell in love with, and hasn’t looked back since. He overcame a lot of hardships before joining us at Matchbox, so it’s fitting that his motto is “Never give up!”

Of Omid’s many skills, barbecuing charcoal on a rainy day is a true testament to his problem-solving nature! Passionate about technology, entrepreneurship, and helping others succeed, you can always count on him to be your biggest cheerleader. Whether it’s spending time with his family or working hard with the Dev team, you know Omid’s going to be giving it 110%.

A true adrenaline junkie, Russell can be found perfecting his balance on the slackline or reaching new heights rock climbing. From starting his own business to pursuing a nontraditional career path, he believes in doing what you want and making every moment count. One thing we know for sure? Behind Russell’s humble exterior lies a warm heart and a brilliant mind. 

If we were a vegetable garden, Bizzy would be the gnome: sitting, smiling, helping the vegetables grow through ambient joy. She has an incredible knack for masking boring asks with writing entertaining emails, and was the first content creator for this team page. Need a problem tackled from a different angle? Want your faith in humanity restored? Come spend time with Bizzy.