As a Sales Leader at Plaid, Matt McGowan is responsible for managing teams that provide exceptional service to West Coast customers. He leads the Startup and Mid-Market segments, focusing on businesses with 1-5 employees who are often new to market or pre-launch. McGowan's work impacts people's financial lives by working with companies that create unique services addressing unmet needs for consumers and businesses, such as financial management and small business loans. Plaid's mission to unlock financial freedom resonates with him, as it enables choices and has enabled numerous business models that weren't previously available. Despite the high-performance environment at Plaid, McGowan values the company culture, citing his consistent appreciation for smart and friendly people. He attributes Plaid's success to its rigorous approach and emphasis on acting with urgency, principles he has adopted in his own career. McGowan's journey into sales began as a History major who landed a job selling companies on putting their open jobs on the internet, a role that helped him develop fundamental skills for selling. He learned about Plaid through a seed-stage startup looking to automate payment validation and was drawn to its early stage and fintech focus. After applying through LinkedIn, McGowan joined Plaid four years ago and has since evolved his role from individual contributor to managing a team. Outside of work, he unwinds with family time, playing the drums, and enjoying wine. McGowan is proud of being a father to two young children, who inspire him with their fearlessness and spirit.