Human on the Inside. We’re big believers in the power of human skills. But don’t just take our word for it - the evidence for excellence powered by human (‘soft’) skills is everywhere! In this engaging, ever-enlightening series, we speak with industry leaders, innovators and game-changers to learn a little about their personal career journeys, and how human-led strategies, philosophies and cultures are proving a force for good in their working worlds … 

Maxme: Welcome Matt, and thanks for stepping into the #SuccessIsHuman Spotlight.You’re currently Partner Cyber Response and Forensic Technology at KPMG.In 2 sentences, what does this role entail?

Matt Dri: Helping people respond to ransom, extortion, theft, fraud, espionage, denial of service, and destructive attacks.

I lead a team of highly technical and talented people who can extract and interpret digital evidence and use it to build a cohesive narrative of an incident. The quality of our work can be presented in a court of law.

A quote that I get from clients on more than one occasion is “Great working with you Matt, but I never want to see you again”.

M: To call you one of the most experienced Cyber Security leaders in Australia would be no understatement Matt! 

Your impressive career kicked off in 2004 with IBM, where you stayed for almost a decade. First joining the company as a Network Analyst, you progressed through the business in a further three roles including Security Advisor, Engineer and IT Forensic Analyst. 

Your next role was with Verizon as a Security Consultant (2013), followed by almost five years with Symantec as a Lead Investigator. A short stint with CrowStrike followed in 2019-2020, before joining Okta as a Principal Detection & Response Engineer, progressing to Senior Manager within the same unit after just 12 months. 

In June 2023 you joined KPMG as Partner - a position well earned given your creds in this rapidly evolving, ever-challenging industry!

How does all this speak to your personal purpose and what drives you as an individual? 

MD: I have a need to understand the root cause of a problem and a fear of missing something. 

Responding to international cyber attacks has introduced me to a great diversity of people and systems. Having worked on critical incidents for so long I have developed a calmness and focus in high stress environments. Being reliable, trusted, and delivering at a high standard has created opportunities for me.

M: Tell us a little about your personal education pathway/s - what led you to where you are now? How closely do your formal qualifications match your current career?

MD: When I started University after secondary school I didn’t know what I wanted to do. This was evident in my results - I failed three out of four subjects in my first semester of a Business Degree and dropped out.

I enjoyed architectural drawing at school and thought I could get into the field. Through a friend I set up a meeting with an architect. The architect was straight with me “without a Degree and top marks you're unlikely to get into this field”.

After some soul searching I came to the realisation that I needed to apply myself. I couldn’t coast like I did in school. The following year I enrolled into an Advanced Diploma of IT, I applied myself, really enjoyed the work and excelled. I was provided a two year exemption into a Bachelor of Applied Science and completed it with High Distinction.

M: If you could share one piece of career advice to your 21 year old self it would be ...

MD: Some workplaces offer mentorship programs and I had excellent mentors when I started my career at IBM. For those starting out without a mentorship program, I would highly encourage you to seek them out. It can be awkward at first, but I can tell you people are flattered when asked to be a mentor.

M: Maximising the potential of individuals, communities and businesses through the power of human skills is the reason Maxme exists. Can you tell us a little about the role and / or value of human skills in your workplace or industry right now?

MD: We all get tasks we don’t enjoy doing but are important to get done. I try to find ways of making those tasks fun. For me, that often means automating a process. It’s about finding the benefit or the value in what you're doing. I try to motivate my team and lead by example - being positive, finding the value, and making it fun.

M: Self Awareness sets the critical foundation for all Maxme learning experiences. With that said … what’s your strongest trait / personal superpower?

MD: My superpower is my ability to take a step back during a crisis, see the big picture, and prioritise the most important tasks to achieve the best outcome.

M: And on the flip side, what’s one human / ‘soft’ skill you’ve had to really work on improving over the course of your career?

MD: Receiving and providing feedback is a skill I’ve had to continually work on throughout my career. The best teams I’ve been part of continually challenge each other and strive for excellence. It's a culture of learning, understanding and support.

M: If you could share one piece of career advice with recent Uni graduates or candidates keen to work in the field of cyber security/forensic tech, what would it be?

MD: Systems, networks and malware are all code. Develop a deep technical understanding, build and innovate. It’s not a waste of time reinventing the wheel - you’ll learn a tremendous amount on the journey.

M: You’ve been granted approval to add one University graduate to your business, but have 100 applicants, all with outstanding academic results. How do you find your perfect candidate - what are you looking for?

MD: These candidates are all smart. Do they add to the diversity of the team? Do they have passion for the field of work? Do they have hobby projects? Do they have positive energy? Are they a team player?

M: In the words of John Dewey, “education is not preparation for life, education is life itself.” 

What’s next on your #learning agenda? 

MD: I’ve been using different Large Language Models for specialised tasks and experimenting with Deepfakes. At a recent team meeting a member of my team cloned my voice from YouTube and took control of the meeting. To defend, we need to understand. I learn something new everyday!

Ready to develop the human skills within your organisation, team or self? Explore our menu of Maxme Products & Programs or simply download the Hodie app to get started today.

Prefer to talk through your options? Simply contact us at any time.

More human goodness you might like: