From Survival Mode to Purpose-Driven Leadership

Matty didn’t set out to build a career in the nonprofit world, but Serendipity turned out to be exactly where he belonged. As he puts it, “I had a pretty rough upbringing […] and part of the results of that is you don’t really dream a lot. You […] focus on today.” After working for a Xenium client that experienced a sudden leadership change, Matty transitioned to a role onsite with the company and began interviewing with nonprofits. Then Serendipity came into the picture—and everything clicked.

“I just absolutely fell in love with their mission and the staff and the kids that they served,” he shared. “It became pretty clear over a short amount of time that that was really where I belonged.”

That sense of belonging turned into a 13-year journey from HR Manager to Executive Director. And in that time, he’s reshaped not only how Serendipity supports students but also how it supports the adults doing that incredibly hard work.

Leading a Trauma-Informed Organization—For Kids and Adults

Serendipity serves students who have exhausted all available resources in their public schools. These are young people who often arrive with trauma histories, unmet emotional needs, and a deep distrust of adults.

“We are referred to students that just don’t have the tools yet to succeed in public schools,” Matty explained. “So they come to us, and we do everything we can to wrap our services around them and figure out what success looks like for them.”

That concept—“success looks different for everyone”—also shapes Matty’s leadership philosophy with staff. Drawing on Serendipity’s trauma-informed framework, he leads with the belief that adults, like kids, will do well if they can.

“Adults are just better rehearsed kids,” he said. “Sometimes they’ve developed maladaptive skills that have just made it so that they are dealing with adult realities in a way that isn’t totally productive. And sometimes, as employers, we have to figure out how to reshape those skills too.”

At Serendipity, this means creating emotional safety, building trust, offering clarity, and honoring choice. “One of the biggest things we focus on is predictability—making sure people know what to expect from their leaders. That consistency builds trust, which is foundational to everything.”

The Parallel Between Classrooms and Workplaces

One of the most striking themes from our conversation was the profound parallel Matty sees between students and staff.

“Schools use a framework called Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS),” Matty explained. “It’s about giving all students baseline support, then additional help if they struggle, and more intensive intervention if needed. I see the workplace the same way.”

That insight—combined with his lived experience—guides how Matty leads during times of disruption. And there has been no greater disruption than the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were closed for a year and a half,” he said. “We had staff driving iPads and food to students’ homes. Our case managers and behavioral staff showed up in heroic ways. But it was incredibly disruptive—for our students and our team.”

Post-pandemic, the focus has shifted toward stabilization. “You can’t get to healing until you can get calm,” Matty said. “And we’ve all been through something. Everyone has experienced trauma in some form, so we’re rebuilding and stabilizing before anything else.”

Leading with Compassion and Boundaries

With all that weight—supporting students, advocating for staff, navigating a resource-constrained nonprofit—how does a leader like Matty sustain himself?

The answer is both practical and deeply personal.

“I give myself a landmark on my drive home. I can stew and fret until that Chevron station. But after that, I turn on a podcast, shift my thinking, and prepare to be present for my family.”

It’s not just about switching gears—it’s about protecting energy for the people who need him most, whether they’re in his office or at his dinner table. “I have three adopted kids with neurological and educational differences,” he shared. “So I can’t bring all of this home. And I’ve had to acknowledge the habits I develop to cope, and whether they’re serving me or not.”

Making Mission-Driven Work Sustainable

At the heart of Matty’s work is a daily tension that many nonprofit leaders will recognize: the mission is massive, and the resources are limited.

“We have district tuition, but it covers the basics,” he said. “So we’re constantly trying to figure out—what else do our students need? What do our staff need? And how do we fund it?”

What makes that harder is the nature of Serendipity’s work. “We don’t want to exploit our kids’ stories. They’ve been through enough. So it’s hard to raise awareness without crossing ethical lines.”

Despite those constraints, Matty is passionate about getting the word out and inviting more people to be part of the mission.

“If places like this didn’t exist, a lot of kids would fall through the cracks. But because we exist, classrooms are less disruptive, families have hope, and students have a shot at meaningful progress.”

Final Thoughts

Matty Berryessa’s leadership is a lesson in empathy in action. His story reminds us that workplaces—like schools—can be places of healing when leaders show up with compassion, consistency, and courage.

“There’s seldom, if ever, been a time in my 30 years of leadership where I’ve encountered someone who woke up and decided to go ruin someone’s day,” he told me. “People deserve our best effort to give them the tools to be successful.”

At a time when workplace burnout, mental health challenges, and cultural division are at an all-time high, Matty’s approach is not just refreshing—it’s necessary.

To learn more about Serendipity Center and how to support their work, visit serendipitycenter.org.

Brandon Laws is a workplace culture and leadership enthusiast, host of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, and VP of Marketing and Product at Xenium HR.