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 company
Why values-based hiring is the ultimate filter
How financial transparency transformed their organization
What leadership looks like when it's not about you
Why “best practices” are often anything but
How to lead like an engineer
This is a masterclass in sustainable, purpose-driven leadership. If you're serious about culture, this one’s for you.
0:00 Intro
1:01 Matt’s Path from Intern to President
4:18 The Real Reason He Chose Engineering
6:37 Applying His Purpose at Work and Home
10:28 Faith and Leadership
13:17 When Leadership Feels Like Psychology
16:39 How to Build a Coaching Culture
19:06 Mission Without the Job Titles21:03 Culture as a Decision Filter
24:21 Saying No to Money
26:44 Growth Without Compromise
29:42 Starting Culture from Scratch
32:33 Why Best Practices Don’t Always Work
35:00 The Great Game of Business & Transparency
38:56 Matt’s Role as “Engineer” of the Train
43:15 Why He Feels Unfulfilled—and Why That’s Good
45:32 Final Reflections and How to Connect
Resources 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 @PhilOnPurpose
