The Leadership Framework Behind One of America’s Best Places to Work with Matt Hoying

Can culture itself be a business strategy?In this episode of The Purpose Matrix, Phil sits down with Matt Hoying, President of Choice One Engineering—a company consistently ranked as a Best Place to Work and known for its people-first culture, operational clarity, and unapologetic transparency.Matt shares how he rose from intern to president, why engineering is just a vehicle for impact, and how they’ve built a coaching culture where everyone—from leadership to new hires—owns the mission. He also breaks down Choice One’s “Decision Filter” and explains why they’ve walked away from profitable deals that didn’t align with their values.Whether you're a founder, team leader, or aspiring leader within an organization, this episode offers a blueprint for creating a culture that scales with clarity, intentionality, and heart.Here’s what you’ll learn:How to build culture intentionally—even inside a larger companyWhy values-based hiring is the ultimate filterHow financial transparency transformed their organizationWhat leadership looks like when it's not about youWhy “best practices” are often anything butHow to lead like an engineerThis is a masterclass in sustainable, purpose-driven leadership. If you're serious about culture, this one’s for you.0:00 Intro1:01 Matt’s Path from Intern to President4:18 The Real Reason He Chose Engineering6:37 Applying His Purpose at Work and Home10:28 Faith and Leadership13:17 When Leadership Feels Like Psychology16:39 How to Build a Coaching Culture19:06 Mission Without the Job Titles21:03 Culture as a Decision Filter24:21 Saying No to Money26:44 Growth Without Compromise29:42 Starting Culture from Scratch32:33 Why Best Practices Don’t Always Work35:00 The Great Game of Business & Transparency38:56 Matt’s Role as “Engineer” of the Train43:15 Why He Feels Unfulfilled—and Why That’s Good45:32 Final Reflections and How to ConnectResources Mentioned📚 Drive by Daniel H. Pink📚 The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack📚 Good to Great by Jim Collins🌐 Choice One Engineering: https://choiceoneengineering.com/ 🔗 Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthoying Follow @PhilOnPurposehttps://www.instagram.com/philonpurposehttps://www.facebook.com/philonpupose