Benny Mathew left a secure corporate job to start Orion Three during the pandemic. He argues self-awareness is the most critical skill for leaders, calling it a lifelong spiritual journey that improves how you connect with others. His company runs on relationships: he credits 750 diverse friends as his biggest source of joy and the engine of his business.
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This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast, where business leaders share their insights. It is 6 questions in 7 minutes because successful business leaders are busy and rarely have more time to spare. So let's get to it. Question number 1: In a few sentences, please tell me who you are and what you do.
First of all, Professor, thank you for having me on this. Uh, it's great, uh, being on the other end of the mic this time. So my My name is Benny Mathew. I am from Chicago. I'm also the founder of a company called Orion Three, which is new as of this year. Before that, I was in corporate for 16 years after college. My first job out of college was for a company called AeroTech, where I was there for 12 years, a little over 12 years. Started out as a recruiter, then went into sales, business development. And then leadership. And then after that, I worked for one of the biggest public accounting firms in the world called Baker Tilly out of Chicago. And I was there for about 3 and a half years. And so when this year started, I decided to leave my comfortable corporate job with a secure salary and benefits to start a startup in an industry that doesn't exist in the middle of a pandemic. So, you know, That's where I'm at now.
Well, Benny, it's an absolute pleasure to have you on the show.
Question number 2: What is something that makes you smile and/or laugh about working in your industry?
Uh, it's easily the people. Uh, well, one, it's the people because like literally, you know, I, I have about a little over 750 people that are, um, a part of this Orion 3 group and, um, The truth is they're all people that I like. They're all people that I'm friends with. They're all extremely successful people from diverse backgrounds. So I— it's so much fun where I get to create this company of basically just being able to hang out with my friends, you know, or make new friends and then get to hang out with them, uh, and get to know them on a professional, personal level as to whatever level I see fit.
Oh, I love it.
And it's—
and what's better than getting to work with your friends? I love it. Question number 3: I have a fictitious book with all the answers for business. What chapter would you think most companies should read?
Um, that's actually a really good question because I think there is, you know, I think it's— I wouldn't say company should read, it's just different leaders, right? And, um, if you're leading people, I think so there should be something in there about self-awareness. Because you can't lead people, in my opinion, unless you understand yourself. And I, you know, personally, I think self-awareness is by far the most important thing a human being can achieve.
I would agree with you there, because when you're self-aware of your effects on others, you know, it's certainly— you can, you can respond accordingly. And I think that that's very wise. Thank you for sharing that. Question number 4, other than the generic work harder, have a great attitude, and care for customers, what advice or insight would you give to other business leaders?
Understand yourself. Again, I'm just going to say self-awareness because I just think the more you could understand yourself, the better you could connect with other people, the better you can connect, the better you're— the more receptive you are to ideas, to feedback. I just think that, you know, I'm not a religious person, but I'm a very spiritual person. And I think that, and for me, especially I'm 39 now, the last 8 years has been this journey of self-awareness. And I feel like even though I was raised in a very strict Catholic home and I've read the Bible from page 1 in Genesis all the way to end at least a couple different times, But I feel like I understand God better the more that I look within myself.
I really like that. And it's interesting because, as you say, about being this journey of being self-awareness, do you feel like it's a lifelong journey?
100%.
Yeah. 100%.
And I think if you think there's a finish line, you're not on the journey. You know, like, there is no finish line. It's like constantly trying to figure yourself out. And yeah, absolutely a lifelong journey.
Yeah, it really is. And, and, uh, that's what makes life worth living too, is because, you know, there's always something new to work on and new to explore and, and tackle, right?
Yep.
Yeah, it's great. Question number 5: What other business leader like yourself would you like to acknowledge and invite to be on my podcast?
Man, I told you I have a list of like, you know, that there's about— oh, there's over 750 people that are business leaders in Chicago. But literally at the top of my head right now I'm thinking my buddy Tom Kirby, who's starting a phenomenal company that I think is going to— he's going to do some great things. There's Alice Chen, who I met her because somebody from her advisory board, who's a good friend of mine, introduced me to her. She's launching a tequila seltzer, which I think is— she sent me some samples, it's great. God, there's so many. Gary Cooper from Chicago. I think he's been the most— he's been the Chicago business celebrity. I think he's doing some great things, not just within his company, but also just for the community overall. I mean, there's a lot of people that— and those three names just come to mind because I was literally just thinking of them. I have another friend, Jen Christensen, who's launching an— it's almost like an augmented reality type app company that is, um, it's called FaceTrace. So, uh, yeah, I mean, if you give me time, I can give you a list of like, you know, 600.
So perfect. I got plenty of people in the queue, so I don't need that many, but I appreciate it. Thank you so much for those referrals.
And our final question, question number 6: please tell me about your first job.
Okay, so my first job that's not on LinkedIn that most people don't ever know about. So it is, I was at an amusement park called Kiddieland, which is like a historical place in Chicago. I was 15. You know, we, I grew up in a very small, tiny apartment. You know, I would just want to get a job right away, like when I was young and my, I got my work permit, so I was really excited. So Kitty Land amusement park, I can't even remember the year, what summer it was. It was my first experience with actually having a job and getting a paycheck, but it was a lot of fun, and I learned that I never ever ever want to work in an amusement park again. I've actually had a really hard time eating anything at amusement parks because I saw the people that were making the food in, you know, in Kitty Land and how much we goofed around. So yeah, that the biggest lesson that taught me is don't ever work in an amusement park again.
Well, it's a great lesson, and I can only imagine, uh, you know, I worked at a restaurant and, you know, I would never have eaten in that restaurant after what I saw in the kitchen.
So yeah, well, but on the flip side, like, my first real job out of college, AeroTec, I mean I, for me personally, that was the best job I could have had. And I never ever expected to be there for over 12 years. And, you know, there was a lot of BS and there was a lot of ups and downs, but honestly, like, I wouldn't trade anything, anything for that. I'm extremely grateful for the people that I met, that I, you know, that I got to build relationships with, that I'm still friends with, I should say. So, um, I had no idea what the company even did when I got the job. So I got lucky with that. Um, and it just ended up being something that literally made a huge impact on my life.
Great story to follow that one up. Thank you so much. And Benny, thank you for being on the show. How can people find you?
Um, I think the best way is obviously LinkedIn. I'm very active on that. And also, um, yeah, I think LinkedIn would probably be the safest thing to say. My email is benny@orion3.com. That's O-R-I-O-N, the number 3, dot com.
Perfect.
This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast. Get hundreds of amazing business insights from previous guest episodes on your favorite podcast app.
