Ask any alumni of Auckland Grammar School what it means to be an Old Boy and there is a theme to every answer - they are extremely proud to have been a part of over 150 years of history, something Matt Herbert '07 definitely relates to. "Being an Old Boy means a lifelong connection and something I am very proud of. No matter where you are in the world, when you meet another Old Boy, there is an instant bond."

The foundation laid at Auckland Grammar gave Matt the confidence to reach his goals and pursue his passions. "Grammar gave me a foundation of high performance, resilience, ambition and how to perform in competitive environments. Whether in academics, sport, or leadership, you are constantly competing, and that forces you to work harder, sharpen your skills, and keep improving. This mindset has made me comfortable with pressure, driven to keep learning, and always looking for ways to be better."

Early on in his career, Matt helped bring Uber to New Zealand and launching it in Christchurch. At the time, the brand was well-renowned overseas but still in its infancy back home. But Matt could see the benefits of building something new from the ground up. It was this passion and his growth mindset that saw him co-found Tracksuit, an affordable, always-on brand tracking platform that helps businesses measure, manage, and grow their brands and build future-proofed businesses, an opportunity that he just couldn't pass up.

"I teamed up with my old colleague, Connor Archbold, brand strategist James Hurman, and TRA - the trifecta of software, brand, and research. We had the right mix of expertise, and I saw it as an opportunity to create the kind of company I wanted to build, one that reflected my experiences, values, and the type of culture I'd be proud of."

Matt is the co-CEO alongside Connor, and he moved to the United Kingdom in 2024 to help expand the business, opening offices in London and New York. He could see the value in quality brand tracking - "a company's brand is one of their most valuable assets" - but for many years, it was only major corporations who had access to it. Tracksuit was created to change that, and in just three short years, Matt has already seen impressive growth.

"The momentum was there from day one. We started talking to brand leaders and some of New Zealand's best brands, and the appetite for better brand tracking was immediate. Before we had even built the first version of the product, we had upfront commitments from brands like Allpress, Yealands, and Simplicity. That early traction gave us confidence and momentum."

With his role focusing on strategic partnerships, market expansion and deepening Tracksuit's presence within brand measurement, Matt is committed to building the company's reputation around the world, and continues to power the company forward. "Our mission is simple: we want to create a common language for measuring and communicating the value of brand. We hope that every CMO, founder and boardroom will be using Tracksuit data to measure and grow their brand within five years."

Matt is also focused on building a 'coaching culture' within the company. "Beyond growth, building culture is just as important to me. Tracksuit is a place where the best people want to work, and I want to make sure we continue to cultivate an environment of high performance and high care. The most rewarding part is seeing a team that is empowered, passionate, and deeply invested in what we are creating. It is something that everyone at Tracksuit takes responsibility for, shapes, and is proud to be part of. Watching that culture scale, seeing great people grow, align, and push together - it is all worth it!"

Tracksuit has taken the world by storm and the team's efforts have seen them win numerous awards. Connor and Matt were named the Top Entrepreneurs in 2023 and third on the list again in 2024, the company won the ASX Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year award in 2024, and Tracksuit was recognised as one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in New Zealand's history by the National Business Review.

Starting a business from scratch is no mean feat and Matt is incredibly proud of the work he, Connor and their team have created. He said the key to his success is to surround yourself with great people. "Have as many conversations as possible. Ask for advice, get feedback, talk to customers, and keep validating as you build. Lots of people have great ideas but ideas don't become reality without action. Start, commit and figure it out as you go. And remember - if you are going to build something, you might as well enjoy it!"