Pay it forward: helping others through personal and professional growth
For Matt Mallory, life is as fast paced as ever. Days now look a little different, often extending late into the evening as he balances his personal and professional lives with his passion for helping others. Not only is he the senior manager of talent optimization at Bread Financial, he also recently took a second job as a mental health counselor at The Center for Family Resolution in Columbus after earning a master's degree in mental health counseling.
Beginning his Bread Financial career as part of the customer care team in 1993, Matt later transitioned to the client partnerships team before joining the people and culture team in 2016. Today, he is responsible for leading the design and strategy for performance management and associate development. Prior to his current role, Matt earned a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in organizational leadership, jumpstarting his interest in psychology and human resources.
“I found that the concept of human resources was evolving into more of a ‘human consulting’ role, with a focus on helping people get through difficult times in their lives and empowering associates to be their best selves,” said Matt. “Seeing that was inspiring, and I began seriously thinking about becoming a therapist so I could take my passion for helping and developing others one step further. Therapy is something I wish I had growing up, especially as an LGBTQ+ individual, knowing the profound impact it can have in someone’s life.”
With a new perspective and empowered by those around him, Matt was accepted into the University of Dayton master's program for mental health counseling in 2019. In May, he graduated and earned his certification as a licensed professional counselor (LPC).
Matt credits the support he received from leaders and associates at Bread Financial in his decision to earn a second master's degree, noting how his team provided him with the flexibility he needed to pursue his education while continuing to deliver quality work at Bread Financial.
“When Matt expressed his desire to return to school while advancing his career, it was immediately clear that we would do everything necessary to support him,” said Sam Anders, vice president of people management and development, Bread Financial. “Creating a fulfilling work environment where associates feel valued and supported as individuals is crucial to our success. From the outset, we wanted Matt to feel confident that we could provide the flexibility and support he needed to pursue his passions.”
Working closely with his advisor and Bread Financial team, Matt completed his schooling over five years, carefully balancing his academic, professional and personal life. When not working at Bread Financial, he often spent his nights and weekends completing his coursework and more than 600 internship hours, as well as making time for his husband and dogs.
“In addition to working a full-time job, I sold my house, planned a wedding and got married,” he said. “The past five years has been a combination of really disciplined schedules and communicating with my husband, friends and colleagues.”
Matt found numerous ways to apply his new skills to his daily work during his time in the counseling program, noting how the lessons he learned in the classroom improved his skills as a manager and strengthened his ability to help his team talk through and solve problems. He also uses what he learned while facilitating Bread Financial’s psychological safety program, which trains leaders on topics related to inclusion and belonging, effective communication and fostering a workplace where all associates can thrive.
“In my day-to-day team structure, I found it’s much more effective to create an environment where my direct reports can figure out which direction they want to go instead of me providing them with answers,” said Matt. “In the psychological safety sessions, it very much feels like group therapy, so I’ve been able to use the skills from my coursework and internship to help create a space for people to have some difficult conversations.”
Now that he has graduated, Matt plans to continue growing in his role at Bread Financial while working evenings as a therapist. He praises the schedule flexibility Bread Financial offers so that he can pursue both roles simultaneously.
His biggest pieces of advice for anyone looking to further their education? Have confidence in yourself and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
“Confidence, motivation and the support of your ‘village’ is everything. People told me that at the end of the program, I would look back and wonder how I did it, but if it’s something you really want to do, you will figure out a way to do it," said Matt. “I would never have completed the program without the exceptional love and support I received, and I’m so thankful for my team, friends and family who encouraged me every step of the way.”
About Bread Financial®
Bread Financial® (NYSE: BFH) is a tech-forward financial services company that provides simple, personalized payment, lending and saving solutions to millions of U.S. consumers. Our payment solutions, including Bread Financial general purpose credit cards and savings products, empower our customers and their passions for a better life. Additionally, we deliver growth for some of the most recognized brands in travel & entertainment, health & beauty, jewelry and specialty apparel through our private label and co-brand credit cards and pay-over-time products providing choice and value to our shared customers.
To learn more about Bread Financial, our global associates and our sustainability commitments, visit breadfinancial.com or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
