(Originally aired September 10th on LinkedIn Live.)

On the show today, we’re featuring a conversation between Ayzenberg’s Matt Bretz and Swiftwater Group founder and video gaming industry veteran Rob Matthews.


Rob Matthews discusses his long career in the video game industry, notably working for Nintendo and Xbox. He shares how his professional as well as his early personal experiences not only shaped his view of marketing and advertising but also how he navigates his career.

Rob has worked on building some of the most iconic brands and entertainment franchises in popular culture including Xbox, Nintendo, Minecraft, Pokemon, Mario, Zelda, Halo, Forza, Gears of War, Windows 10, Microsoft Surface, Microsoft HoloLens, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance and nearly 400 others. During this episode, Matthews also dissects the nature of fandom, what drives consumers to become fans and how to grow them.

Ultimately, Rob stresses the importance of never backing down from a challenge because that’s what develops the character we need to solve problems. He articulates a four-tiered approach that anyone can use in any area of their lives, professional or otherwise.


About Listen In: Each week on Listen In, Matt Bretz and a rotating cast of hosts from Ayzenberg interview experts in the field of marketing and advertising to explore uncharted territory together. The goal is to provide the a.network audience with actionable insights, enabling them to excel in their field.